GET IN TOUCH
Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting WFNEWS to 80360 or email » »
WALTHAMSTOW: Asbestos found in council building
1:01pm Monday 23rd June 2008
DEADLY asbestos has been found in a council building - prompting a watchdog to order it to be closed until it is made safe.
The building, in Lockwood Way, Walthamstow, houses a team of council workers and is also used to store files containing information about people using council services.
The facility was recently refurbished and Waltham Forest joint unions health and safety convenor Su Manning has since become concerned about dust in the building.
An investigation by a council team has now revealed both white and the more dangerous brown asbestos (amosite) in the building.
Mrs Manning said: "The building has a corrugated roof and I know that many roofs contain white asbestos.
"But there is also amosite, I don't know how that has got there but it is worrying because people need access to those files."
Because of the find, the council was obliged to report the matter to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
The HSE has now issued a prohibition notice meaning the building has to be closed until the results of further tests.
Asbestos was widely used as a building material and insulator in the 1950s but it was only in the mid-1970s that its dangers were fully appreciated.
White asbestos (chrysolite) is less harmful, but brown (amosite) and blue (crocidolite) asbestos are potentially deadly.
The fibres in asbestos can cause inflammation of the lung, and can cause incurable cancers including mesothelioma, the symptoms of which can take decades to develop.
Mrs Manning fears there could be more HSE orders or prosecutions against the authority and claimed the council's corporate helath and safety team, which advises council managers, will be axed as part of an efficiency review.
The team has already had its resources cut.
She said: "People have left and not been replaced, the team used to have three advisors, a technician, an administrator and a manager but it now has just three people.
"And now we are getting HSE orders.
"We have extremely good health and safety methods and I am concerned the council departments will not be able to get expert advice and help.
"Once the team has gone people will realise what has been lost."
The Guardian contacted the council for a comment and is awating a response.
Your Say Your Guardian
mdj, e10 says...
10:59pm Mon 23 Jun 08
BTW, the City of London used to have a scheme for removal of domestic asbestos: if you wrap it in polythene and taped it shut, they would remove it for a modest charge. This may still be true. A garage roof washed by rain for fifty years will only be a hazard if you start breaking it, or brushing the underside and disturbing dry dust. Wear a mask, obviously, but don't panic.
Chingford United Netball Team, E4 says...
12:21pm Tue 24 Jun 08
mdj wrote:What a load of rubbish you talk.
Most asbestos, if left alone and preferably painted, poses minimal threat. Yes, as airborne dust it can most certainly kill; the industry knew the dangers from Day 1, a century ago,but kept quiet about it. However, in the last 20 years a lot of very lucrative panic has been generated, especially in the easily-scared public sector, where spending other people's money to remove a fictitious danger is often the easiest option. I knew an asbestos removal 'expert' who was quite candid about going into public buildings with a small piece of plasterboard in his pocket, leaving little scraps of white dust in corners, and getting the whole building closed, with enormous benefit to his bank account. I wonder who's been into this building? BTW, the City of London used to have a scheme for removal of domestic asbestos: if you wrap it in polythene and taped it shut, they would remove it for a modest charge. This may still be true. A garage roof washed by rain for fifty years will only be a hazard if you start breaking it, or brushing the underside and disturbing dry dust. Wear a mask, obviously, but don't panic.
I have never heard of anything so daft in my life as someone walking round with plasterboard claiming it to be asbestos.
mdj, e10 says...
1:14am Wed 25 Jun 08
I merely pass on what the man told me: he seemed to be doing pretty well out of people's willingness to be scared.
CG, Chingford says...
3:44pm Thu 26 Jun 08
I have never heard of anything so daft in my life as someone walking round with plasterboard claiming it to be asbestos.
well then you must be a bit naive - there are plenty of chancers out there who will try their luck for £££'s in the pocket.
I had a garage with a corrugated roof at my previous property and i had a bloke knock on my door offering to replace it and trying to tell me that when it rained the abestos sloughed off and was dangerous. luckily i am not as green as im cabbage looking and sent him off with a flea in his ear.
Sceptic, E17 says...
3:57pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Is the council, once again, getting rid of people we need in order to fund the endless spending on "consultants"?
Your sayYour Guardian
Add your comment
Register for a FREE East London and West Essex Guardian Series account and you can have your say on today's news and sport by adding comments on articles we publish. The best comments may even get published in the paper.
Please register now or sign in below to continue.
In this section
- WANSTEAD: New Tesco to open on high street
- WOODFORD GREEN: Biker is killed by cricket star's dad
- WALTHAMSTOW: Council leader apologises to pensioner left without heating
- TRAFFIC NEWS: M25 re-opens after smash
- WHIPPS CROSS: Fourth ward closed as norovirus continues to spread
- REDBRIDGE: Police search public for knives
- NAZEING: Fire still burning after three days
- LEYTONSTONE: Headteacher and daughter rescued from icy pond
- STH WOODFORD: Council announces plans to rebuild school
- WHIPPS CROSS: Norovirus outbreak closes three wards
Sponsored Links
LOCAL LINKS
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Paul, Chingford says...
4:27pm Mon 23 Jun 08
Oh dear. My garage roof is the same& I know its got asbestos in it, but I understand as long as you dont bash or cause dust to fall off it, its fine as it is.
I cant seem to get any roofers to replace it anyway!!