More asbestos stories in the news March 2006

Burglars who raided a shop in Oswestry have been advised to make an urgent visit to hospital reports the BBC.
The shop was undergoing renovations when the thieves struck and Police fear the crooks may have exposed themselves to harmful asbestos dust.
Meanwhile an official from the Health and Safety Executive has warned that there are still too many people being put at risk from exposure to asbestos. Bill McKay, speaking at a seminar organised by a mesothelioma charity, said:
"There is still insufficient assessment and management of risks from asbestos in premises. Contractors are often unaware that they are working with materials containing asbestos."
Magistrates have fined a Dorset man £1,500 for illegally dumping hazardous material, including asbestos. Despite receiving a warning and agreeing to take action, when officials returned three months later they found dangerous material still being treated at the site. He was also ordered to pay £1,803 in costs.
Residents who let their kids play close to a site containing low levels of asbestos are furious at their local council for not telling them of the danger. The dangerous substance was found during the creation of a new park and work was stopped, but the first the locals knew of the danger was when they awoke to find workers in protective clothing removing hazardous material.