Post by vgp on Jul 19, 2008 19:02:12 GMT 12
Asbestos probe after army games
Soldiers may have been put at risk at old Longburn freezing works site during exercise
By GRANT MILLER - Manawatu Standard | Saturday, 19 July 2008
The Army is to launch an investigation into whether its soldiers were potentially put at risk of exposure to cancer-causing asbestos during a training exercise near Palmerston North.
The exercise at the former Longburn freezing works on May 13 included use of a building that Manawatu District Council ordered to be demolished several months earlier because it was dangerous.
Site owner Ken Thurston allowed the exercise to go ahead on the property even though his company Aotearoa Cool Stores Ltd had been served a dangerous building notice requiring demolition of the fire- damaged building by October 17 last year.
Parts of the building were deemed by the council to be structurally unstable and building materials contained asbestos.
In an email released to the Manawatu Standard under the Official Information Act, Department of Labour official Alan Barrett described the site last year as having "asbestos for Africa". He also said it crumbled easily in the vicinity of the fire-damaged building (creating a risk that fibres could be released into the air).
The New Zealand Defence Force considers asbestos to be a serious health hazard, Linton's 2 Land Force Group Commander Colonel Tim Keating said yesterday.
"The New Zealand Army will conduct an independent investigation into what level of risk our people may have faced and manage and advise them appropriately," he said.
"At this stage it does not appear any direction was given to the Army in regards to a specific asbestos risk," Col Keating said.
All planned future activity at the site has been cancelled and the Army will look elsewhere to conduct its urban training.
The Army will carry out a health survey of people who were at the Longburn site and monitor any health issues that arise, Col Keating said.
The Army keeps a register of personnel exposed to hazardous substances.
Manawatu District Council chief executive Rod Titcombe said the council will initiate its own investigation.
The council had been unaware of the Army exercise.
It was the property owner's responsibility to tell the Army that the building was dangerous, Mr Titcombe said.
Mr Thurston said last night he didn't believe the Army went "anywhere near" the fire-damaged area.
However, former Manawatu Standard reporter Christian Bonnevie, who covered the exercise, said people walked across debris. There was also fresh tagging at the site, he said.
Dust samples taken for the Department of Labour last year tested positive for asbestos, but air- monitoring results were negative.
A Department of Labour communications adviser said the department did not know enough about the incident to comment.
"It's news to us that the Army conducted an exercise there," he said.
www.stuff.co.nz/manawatustandard/4624105a6003.html
Soldiers may have been put at risk at old Longburn freezing works site during exercise
By GRANT MILLER - Manawatu Standard | Saturday, 19 July 2008
The Army is to launch an investigation into whether its soldiers were potentially put at risk of exposure to cancer-causing asbestos during a training exercise near Palmerston North.
The exercise at the former Longburn freezing works on May 13 included use of a building that Manawatu District Council ordered to be demolished several months earlier because it was dangerous.
Site owner Ken Thurston allowed the exercise to go ahead on the property even though his company Aotearoa Cool Stores Ltd had been served a dangerous building notice requiring demolition of the fire- damaged building by October 17 last year.
Parts of the building were deemed by the council to be structurally unstable and building materials contained asbestos.
In an email released to the Manawatu Standard under the Official Information Act, Department of Labour official Alan Barrett described the site last year as having "asbestos for Africa". He also said it crumbled easily in the vicinity of the fire-damaged building (creating a risk that fibres could be released into the air).
The New Zealand Defence Force considers asbestos to be a serious health hazard, Linton's 2 Land Force Group Commander Colonel Tim Keating said yesterday.
"The New Zealand Army will conduct an independent investigation into what level of risk our people may have faced and manage and advise them appropriately," he said.
"At this stage it does not appear any direction was given to the Army in regards to a specific asbestos risk," Col Keating said.
All planned future activity at the site has been cancelled and the Army will look elsewhere to conduct its urban training.
The Army will carry out a health survey of people who were at the Longburn site and monitor any health issues that arise, Col Keating said.
The Army keeps a register of personnel exposed to hazardous substances.
Manawatu District Council chief executive Rod Titcombe said the council will initiate its own investigation.
The council had been unaware of the Army exercise.
It was the property owner's responsibility to tell the Army that the building was dangerous, Mr Titcombe said.
Mr Thurston said last night he didn't believe the Army went "anywhere near" the fire-damaged area.
However, former Manawatu Standard reporter Christian Bonnevie, who covered the exercise, said people walked across debris. There was also fresh tagging at the site, he said.
Dust samples taken for the Department of Labour last year tested positive for asbestos, but air- monitoring results were negative.
A Department of Labour communications adviser said the department did not know enough about the incident to comment.
"It's news to us that the Army conducted an exercise there," he said.
www.stuff.co.nz/manawatustandard/4624105a6003.html