Police Station Riddled with Asbestos

February 13, 2007 - More than 300 police officers who work at a station in Brunswick, Australia are concerned about the presence of asbestos in their building.  Officials say the asbestos was discovered last year when renovations began on the 50-year-old structure.
Police union members told the media that officers are being forced to work in a cramped "portable classroom" while the asbestos is being removed in stages.  They believe the extensive process is interfering with important police work.

"It certainly is an occupational health and safety issue," Police Association secretary Paul Mullett told The Sunday Age. "We want to be fully briefed on the extent of the asbestos in this building to ensure that our members have been working in a safe environment over the years.

"The building has been used by police for 40 or 50 years, so officers have been working in accommodation during that period of time that has effectively been riddled with asbestos."

The union notes that they plan to talk with members of the force once the renovations are complete in order to determine whether or not future compensation claims may be filed.  "We don't want to be alarmist, but on reflection, former and current members may consider their position if they did get ill at the time they were working in that accommodation," Mullett said.

A spokesperson for the police force, however, told The Age that they believe the risk is minimal.  "Investigations have indicated that it's extremely low risk to the health of the employees, and there's no concerns to the local community," said Stacey Mair. "It's not airborne. It's just a limited amount that has been found and, as a result, we want the whole building to undergo inspection and removal.”

"Basically, what's happening is that as and when renovation and removal of the asbestos needs to be done, the members in those areas are moved."

Ms. Mair said police working in the building have been fully briefed and that consistent air monitoring would be taking place to ensure that no asbestos fibers are circulating throughout the building during the renovations.