Asbestos found near school
A specialist team has been brought in to remove broken sheets of asbestos from outside a Wellington school.
Workers on the new Salvation Army centre on the corner of Normanby and Riddiford streets, Newtown, this week came across the sheets of asbestos as they were excavating the site.
Staff at the Mission for Youth school, which is surrounded on three sides by the building site, only became aware of the find was when they saw workers in full-body suits removing it yesterday.
Salvation Army divisional commander David Daly said there was little cause for fear because the site was thoroughly hosed down to stop dust before the asbestos was dug out.
Workers came across the broken sheets of asbestos earlier this week under an old foundation on the site, which was immediately shut down.
A specialist team in full white suits was brought in yesterday.
They dug completely around the asbestos, taking away six truck-loads of earth.
The total amount of asbestos taken away would have filled two to three 20-litre rubbish bags, he said.
Specialists would return to the site on Monday ‘‘to make sure they got all of it’’, he said.
The Salvation Army’s new two-level centre would bring its services – the Hope Centre opposite Wellington Hospital, a Rintoul St second-hand store, a Berhampore early childcare centre, and a Constable St church – under one roof.
Michelle Branney, chief executive of Wellington City Mission, which runs the school for teenagers disengaged from traditional schooling, confirmed she was unaware of this week’s asbestos find till she was called by The Dominion Post.
She made inquiries and was satisfied there was no need for concern, even though there were workers in full-body suits removing asbestos just metres from where students entered.
‘‘They are all dressed up because they need to be – there’s no danger to us.’’
WorkSafe confirmed it had been notified and an assessment team would visit the site.
According to the Ministry of Health, inhaling asbestos can lead to asbestosis, or the scarring of lung tissue, malignant tumours around the lungs or intestine, thickening of membranes around the lungs, and lung cancer.
In the past, it had been used for multiple purposes including roofing, backing for tiles, insulation, and oven gloves.
In June, it was reported that there was going to be a ban on importing almost all types of asbestos.
They are all dressed up because they need to be – there's no danger to us. City Mission chief executive Michelle Branney