Asbestos handling concerns have been raised in relation to a hotel redevelopment site in the Canberra suburb of Braddon. These concerns have seen the construction union, the CFMEU, call for the site to be closed. The CFMEU has confirmed that asbestos at the site was not being removed or disposed of correctly and workers were not wearing the necessary protective gear or being correctly decontaminated after finishing work on the site.
Despite these concerns Work Safe ACT has decided to allow work to continue on the site. Mark McCabe, Work Safety Commissioner, has said that inspectors who visited the site are satisfied the union’s concerns have been dealt with by the employer. The concerns have been taken very seriously as asbestos exposure can lead to workers being exposed to asbestos which can cause serious diseases such as asbestosis, asbestos related pleural disease and mesothelioma.
The company responsible for asbestos removal at the construction site has been referred to the ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) who issue asbestos removal licenses. ACTPLA will decide if action needs to be taken against the removal company such as a withdrawal or suspension of their license.
The incorrect removal and disposal of asbestos at this construction site does not only put workers at risk but also the public. The area is one of very high traffic; there are a lot of people walking past all day and this puts them in at a risk of being exposed to asbestos fibres. Thus resolving the concerns that have been recognized are extremely important to reduce the risk of both workers and the public contracting asbestos related disease like asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos compensation claims in Canberra have been made in the past by building workers who have been exposed to asbestos. ACT asbestos claims, including ACT mesothelioma claims, have involved building workers exposed to asbestos on Canberra building sites.
