Building Boss Risks Lives

Five workers may have been handed death sentences by a construction company that ignored a prohibition notice on a contaminated Newcastle worksite.

Sydney-based construction firm Timwin had scaffolders working unprotected amongst loose asbestos at Latec House, the site of a new housing development.

The CFMEU's Russel Cunningham sprung the illegal work after seeing pigeons flying from the building.

"Alarm bells rang when I saw the pigeons had been disturbed," he said.

Cunningham immediately met with shocked workers who said they had not been told of the notice prohibiting work, or of dangers at the site.

WorkCover slapped a ban on the site earlier this year after discovering deadly friable asbestos loose within the long-abandoned building.

"As far as asbestos goes its the worst type you can come across," Cunningham said.

The workers will undergo testing but because of the nature of asbestos-related disease may not know their fate for years.

"There was an extremely high level of risk involved. The asbestos was at dangerous levels," Cunningham said.

WorkCover fined Timwin $1500 and issued a cease work notice until the asbestos is cleared.

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Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:34 EST