Operation shut over asbestos fears

Canberra's construction industry could face weeks of delays, with plasterboard distributor Boral shut down yesterday over fears for the safety of workers. Late yesterday, WorkSafe ACT issued the Barrier Street plasterboard distribution centre with a prohibition notice, forcing the company to immediately close its doors. For months the agency had been working with Boral over fears crumbling asbestos walls in the ageing Fyshwick building were placing workers in danger. Work Safety commissioner Mark McCabe said company practice was to stack plasterboard against the asbestos walls. Workers reported fork lifts regularly struck the walls, breaking asbestos sheeting apart. As The Canberra Times revealed last fortnight, WorkSafe ACT had ordered a clean-up of the site and had also issued an improvement notice. It also required the company to conduct regular tests to ensure workers were not put at risk and ordered Boral to screen workers for any exposure to the dangerous substance. BY BIANCA HALL Read more...