The Dangerous Reality of Asbestos Handling
According to an expert, asbestos work is being carried out without proper use of protective gear and without the mandatory instruction on how to handle the material safely.
– It is not intended for anyone to remove their mask inside the asbestos removal area. That’s equivalent to being unprotected. Safety measures are not in place. Exposure to asbestos in the lungs can be fatal in the long run. This needs to be stopped,” says Christian Husted, who has taught asbestos training for many years.
Hidden camera footage shows several migrant workers on a roof in Roskilde not wearing masks at all times while removing asbestos panels. They also do not receive information about working with hazardous and harmful materials, according to the recordings.
The work being done by the migrant workers can be life-threatening, according to asbestos expert Jakob Hjort Bønløkke from Aalborg University.
– Asbestos is quite dangerous. It is a carcinogen. It can cause lung cancer, but it is especially known for causing the type of cancer called mesothelioma, which is almost always deadly,” he says.
After half a day of work, the documentary team behind ‘Underdanmark’ decides to remove Rodrigo Perea from the site because it is too dangerous for him to continue working with the asbestos panels.
DR has presented the criticism of the work to CPH Mandskab, who has declined to comment on it.
Worked with Asbestos for Months
Prior to the hidden recordings where asbestos panels were to be removed, Rodrigo Perea was instructed by the documentary team on how to wear protective gear to avoid the dangerous asbestos dust.
However, this was not the case for his colleague on the same construction site, Argentine Benjamin Maraschin.