THE PUBLIC works department failed to inform the relevant authorities and to take the proper safety procedures in dismantling an asbestos roof, thereby putting at risk government workers in a nearby building, according to the Labour Inspection Department.
In a rare instance that defies the usual buddy-system between government agencies, Labour Inspection Officer Themistocles Kyriacou recommended that punitive measures be taken against the responsible supervisor in the Public Works Department.
Early Wednesday afternoon, construction workers began dismantling the asbestos roof of the old Finance Ministry building without the Public Works Department informing either the Labour Inspection Department as they should have, or the employees of the Asylum Department, who were in the adjacent building at the time of the dismantling.
Kyriacou told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that the Labour Department received a phone call from the Asylum Department, alleging that the asbestos roof on the old Finance Ministry building next door was being dismantled while there were still workers in the Asylum Department.
Upon receiving the message, Kyriacou then visited the building, where he confirmed that work had been done the previous day by the Public Works Department without their permission.
“It seemed from the broken asbestos that was lying around that it wasn’t done in the proper method”, Kyriacou said. “And of course, they did not inform our department as they should have done – or as any person who deals with asbestos should do.”
Kyriacou said that they gave instructions to clean the space of the asbestos, which was done, and then “informed the asylum department staff of whether or not they were in danger.”
Kyriacou said that if the asbestos removal is done properly, asbestos particles will not be released and those in the vicinity will not be in danger. But if the asbestos pieces are broken while being removed, or if they are thrown from a great height, then there is a danger to those nearby.
“In this case, there was some distance [between the asylum department staff and the asbestos removal], but because the proper measures weren’t taken, it’s possible that they could have been exposed to more asbestos than usual.”
Both government agency and private individuals must send a ‘method statement’ to the Labour Inspections Department before removing an asbestos roof because of the carcinogenic particles that can be released during the removal. This document, which must include the method by which the demolition will be done and the protective measures to be taken, must then be approved before any work can be done.
Kyriacou said that it was within their legal capacity to “decide upon taking punitive measures against the director of the department of Public Works”, although he said he hoped the Public Works Department would conduct an internal investigation into the matter.
While there is a procedure in place for the proper dismantling of asbestos roofs, there is still no place for asbestos disposal. The responsible agency – Environmental Services – has not yet find a way to properly dispose of asbestos and so now the asbestos is put into containers and stored somewhere outside of Nicosia.
The government stores all the asbestos removed from its building in one area, while private owners need to store them in their own areas.
Kyriacou said the lack of an easy means of asbestos disposal leads the improper and dangerous dumping of asbestos remains.
“Many do not follow the procedures and throw the asbestos away in other places.”
