XN000022-1985-08-30 — Page 4

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1985

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THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT ASBESTOS IS A MATERIAL THAT HAD BEEN USED FOR MANY YEARS IN THE CONSTRUCTION, MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE INDUSTRIES.

ITS WIDESPREAD USE IS DUE TO A COMBINATION OF PROPERTIES, PARTICULARLY CHEMICAL INERTNESS, HEAT RESISTANCE AND MECHANICAL STRENGTH AND EXAMPLES ARE ASBESTOS CEMENT PRODUCTS, ASBESTOS LAGGING, ACOUSTIC INSULATION, BRAKE AND CLUTCH LININGS, FIRE- PROOF CLOTHING, JOINTINGS AND GASKETS.

+DESPITE ITS USEFUL APPLICATIONS, ASBESTOS IS A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL AND INHALATION OF ASBESTOS FIBRES CAN CAUSE ASBESTOSIS WHICH IS A DISEASE OF PROGRESSIVE FIBROSIS OF THE LUNGS WITH

INCREASING RESPIRATORY DISABILITY,

+ASBESTOS WASTE IS AS HAZARDOUS AS ANY OTHER MATERIAL CONTAINING ASBESTOS AND IF HANDLED CARELESSLY CAN ENDANGER WORKERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC,+ HE SAID.

THE CODE SETS OUT GUIDANCE FOR CLASSIFYING THREE DIFFERENT KINDS OF ASBESTOS WASTES ACCORDING TO THEIR HAZARDOUS PROPERTIES AND PHYSICAL NATURE. SPECIFIC ADVICE IS GIVEN ON THE PROPER METHODS OF PACKAGING, LABELLING AND TRANSPORTATION OF THE WASTE, AS WELL AS ON THE PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW TO DELIVER IT TO THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR DISPOSAL.

HEAVY DUTY POLYTHENE SACKS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR PACKING WASTE WHICH CONTAINS LOOSE ASBESTOS FIBRES ONCE IT IS PRODUCED AND THE SACKS HAVE TO BE MARKED WITH +DANGER ASBESTOS WASTE+.

BEFORE DISPOSING OF THE WASTE, WASTE PRODUCERS HAVE TO APPLY TO THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR A PERMIT, AND ONLY CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CONTROLLED TIPS ARE USED FOR +BURIAL+ OF THE WASTE TO AVOID POSSIBLE EXCAVATION IN THE FUTURE.

OTHER ADVICE ON ASBESTOS IS ALSO AVAILABLE. A SEPARATE CODE OF PRACTICE HAS BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF WORKERS HANDLING ASBESTOS.

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO ISSUED A NOTICE TO SHIPOWNERS, SHIPBUILDERS, SHIP REPAIRERS AND SHIPBREAKERS, PROVIDING ADVICE ON THE HEALTH HAZARDS OF ASBESTOS AND THE PRECAUTIONS NEEDED TO BE TAKEN DURING DEMOLITION OR REPAIR WORK ABOARD SHIPS AND FLOATING STRUCTURES.

COPIES OF THE CODE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND MARINE DEPARTMENT.

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