After road workers in Australia completed construction and renovation on the Sydney Harbour Bridge nearly 10 months ago, the public has just been made aware of the discovery of asbestos beneath concrete slabs on the structure.
According to Daily Mail Australia, Duncan Gay, the NSW Nationals Minister for Roads and also a qualified hygienist, was only told of the asbestos earlier this month. Fortunately for those living nearby the bridge, Gay did confirm that the asbestos had low potential for airborne exposure. Local authorities will also be investigating where the excess material taken from the site went and whether or not it was disposed of properly.
Each year, approximately 3,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare cancer brought about by asbestos exposure. Between the 1940s and 1970s, asbestos was utilized frequently in building materials such as floor tiles, shingles and ceiling plaster for fire protection, and in insulation. While stable, asbestos technically does not pose a health risk, but if deteriorated or tampered with, such during a renovation or construction project, asbestos may become airborne and microscopic particles can be inhaled or ingested.
“While it is not uncommon for asbestos to be found during infrastructure work, I would expect better procedures and guidelines to be in place for the escalation of findings,” Mr Gay said in a statement regarding the discovered asbestos. “Roads and Maritime Services did not anticipate contractors finding asbestos under the road where this work was being carried out.”
All of the workers onsite and involved during the construction project have been notified regarding the asbestos discovery on the bridge.
Source: Daily Mail
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