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No threat from asbestos roof

Jun 14, 2007 | Staff | Limerick Post

THE site of the former People's Bakery in Rathkeale, which was demolished, despite containing an asbestos roof, is to be cleared by specialist contractors.

The HSE hired a firm of independent consultants to secure and inspect the site. And they have concluded that "it does not pose an ongoing risk of asbestos exposure to members of the public working or living in the vicinity".

"As the specialist contractors will take appropriate measures when clearing the site, there should be no increased risk to the public, " he added.

He said that "no deaths have been reported following short term environmental exposure to asbestos and it is unlikely that such exposure would have an adverse impact on health. Generally, adverse health effects from asbestos are the result of long term, normally occupational, exposure to high concentration of airborne fibres".

The Health and Safety Authority must be contacted 28 days before a building that contains asbestos can be demolished. However, this rule wasn't adhered to when the old bakery, which contained asbestos in the roof, was torn down, The owners may now be facing a hefty bill.