Fibers send three parliament staff
to Sydney Emergency Room

By Jim O'Rourke, Workplace Reporter

Frightened workers are demanding immediate air-quality tests at New South Wales Parliament House after three people were treated in hospital for exposure to potentially deadly asbestos-like fibres.  Public servants in Macquarie Street fear more people will fall ill from breathing in synthetic mineral fibers (SMF) used as insulation in the building's ceilings.

The U.S. Department of Labour recently warned workers exposed to SMF that studies had suggested they may face the risk of respiratory cancers.

WorkCover has also issued several improvement notices at the House to ensure workers were not exposed to SMF.  The most recent notice was issued two weeks ago.

The Public Service Association has warned its members at Parliament House to leave their workplaces if they have concerns about fibres in the air.

SMF are made primarily from glass, rock, clay and slag and are usually found in the form of fibreglass, or glass-wool, mineral wool and ceramic fibres.

The PSA has advised its members working at Parliament House to immediately leave their work areas when maintenance workers are in the ceiling above their offices.

PSA occupational health and safety officer Terry Hannan said the SMF lined the ceiling cavities to insulate against adverse temperature and noise.  Mr. Hannan said plastic bag-type coverings contained much of the SMB, but many of the bags had split, spilling the fibres.  Loose SMF were also laid in the ceiling cavities.

Some of the microscopic fibres had fallen through perforated aluminium ceiling panels into office space and corridors, Mr. Hannan said.  At least two staff members of an MP, as well as a cleaner, were treated in hospital, complaining of respiratory tract irritations and skin disorders.

The two female staff members, who work for Peter Breen MLC on level 11, went to the emergency section at Sydney Hospital. Mr. Breen said the women became ill on March 5 after fibres and dust were found in their offices, spread across desks, computers, bookshelves and personal belongings after workmen had been in the roof above the offices at the weekend.

"My staff members asked acleaner to come into help sort out the mess," he said.  "Later they complained of not feeling well, itchy hands, face and neck, stinging eyes and a skin rash.  The cleaner had to go to the hospital, too.  I went off my head and got in touch with the building services manager and wrote the the President of the Upper House.  There should be no material in this place dangerous to workers."

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all SMF as "possibly carcinogenic to humans."

WorkCover confirmed it had issued improvement notices to the building maintenance contractor.  The notice requires the contractor to clean up any fibres or dust and obtain a "clearance certificate" from an industrial hygienist, declaring the area safe.