Clumps of asbestos have been discovered at the Kennedy Drive construction site in Tweed Heads, New South Wales. The asbestos is being cleared with council workers wearing HAZMAT suits to safety remove the toxic material. The Tweed Shire Council has confirmed they are taking all necessary precautions to ensure the community is not exposed to asbestos.
The work will include removing all contaminated fill from the site in accordance with current laws and having an occupational hygienist carry out air monitoring during construction works. Council has said that because the asbestos was clumped together it can be seen as less dangerous.
However all these precautions are necessary as inhaling asbestos fibres can lead to people contracting asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma or asbestosis. While there is mesothelioma treatment available in Australia, the disease is often incurable and the number of new mesothelioma cases in Australia is expected to rise within the next decade.
This, along with Australia having one of the highest rates of asbestos related illnesses in the world, demonstrates how important asbestos management and removal is in Australia. For those who have unfortunately been diagnosed with an asbestos related condition there is legislation in some Australian states, including in NSW and South Australia, to help those suffering asbestos conditions pursue an asbestos compensation claim in Australia. This includes both asbestosis compensation in Australia and mesothelioma compensation in Australia.
