Asbestos scare at swimmingpool

July 1989

An asbestos scare has forced the closure of Wexford Corporation’s swimming pool in Ferrybank, where major remedial works are to be carried out to eliminate a possible health hazard.

The closure was ordered on Monday night after Corporation officials and health inspectors considered a report from Eolas, the industrial research body, on air samples at the pool.

One of three air samples taken by Eolas inspectors last month indicated ‘ a potential problem’, Co. Manager, Noel Dillon, revealed in a statement this week.

The asbestos problem centres around an insulation sound shield on the ceiling and walls of the pool which was built as a town amenity in 1973.

The original plans failed to specify what material was used but the Eolas report shows that it is a form of asbestos – a substance which can give rise to respiratory problems and can be cancer-causing.

The Co. Manager stressed that the level of carbon in the problem air sample was low, but said he decided to close the pool on the advice of the Co. Medical Officer.

Experts are now to be called in to pinpoint the extent of remedial action needed – the ceiling and walls of the pool will either be sealed or the asbestos removed altogether. And the costs involved are expected to be substantial.

Elaborating on Mr Dillon’s statement, Acting Co. Manager, Adrian Doyle, said the decision to close the pool was taken to ensure that there would be no problems in the future.

‘ The levels we are talking about are very low. They are much less than those which are considered acceptable for a workplace,’ he pointed out.

One of the difficulties facing the Corporation is a lack of specified standards for the use of asbsestos in public buildings in Ireland.

Asst. Co. Medical Officer, Nora Liddy, who was consulted by the Corporation after the asbestos discovery was made, said she felt that local authority officials had behaved in a ‘very responsible manner’.

‘ The risk is theoretical rather than actual,’ she explained. ‘ The levels involved are extremely low. But in a situation like this they couldn’t afford to take risks at all, and decided to close the pool.’

‘I would almost go so far as to day that it wouldn’t be any more dangerous than smoking a cigarette,’ Dr Liddy added.

Staff at the Municipal swimming pool, which will remain closed for an unspecified period, are to be re-deployed in other areas, according to the Acting Co. Manager.

It is expected that the four swimming instructors employed at the pool will be temporarily appointed as lifeguards on Wexford beaches.

Former Wexford TD, Avril Doyle, whose children use the pool, levelled strong criticism at the Corporation for failing to recognise the danger sooner.

‘ The Borough Engineer should have been aware of the material used,’ said Cllr Doyle, as she called for ‘an urgent enquiry’ into the closure.

The swimming pool alert was raised a month ago when worried staff contacted Corporation officials, asking for an investigation.