The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines bannered as a headline in the front page of their website this afternoon: “TUCP concerned that asbestos puts workers at risk at Manila Thermal Power Plant – calls on government to verify reports”
This is serious stuff.
Asbestos is a danger to everyone because the fibers penetrate deep into the lungs when inhaled. Asbestos causes lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma (a form of cancer caused only by asbestos) with no known safe level of exposure.
Asbestos poses more serious threats to workers, their families and the community due to unsafe asbestos removal at the MTPP as shown below. (A worker at the MTPP was able to take pictures and videos of the asbestos removal.)
More than a hundred workers may be at risk because of unsafe asbestos removal at the retired Manila Thermal Power Plant (MTPP) in Isla de Provisor in Paco, Manila.
Hundreds of metric tons of asbestos wastes are being removed at the MTPP after the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) sold it to Gagasan Steel for $2.5 million. Gagasan Steel, a metal scrapper, is dismantling the MTPP building and equipment and must clean up the site.
Asbestos is a danger to everyone because the fibers penetrate deep into the lungs when inhaled. Asbestos causes lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma (a form of cancer caused only by asbestos) with no known safe level of exposure.
Asbestos poses more serious threats to workers, their families and the community due to unsafe asbestos removal at the MTPP as shown below. (A worker at the MTPP was able to take pictures and videos of the asbestos removal.)
Proper asbestos removal seals the building with plastic with required thickness to avoid escape of asbestos fibers into the air and the environment.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order (DAO) 2000-02 and DAO 2003-03 require safe demolition, removal, handling and disposal of asbestos based on national and international standards.
MTPP ‘enclosure’
1-1The on-going asbestos removal work at the Manila Thermal Power Plant does not comply with safe removal as shown by the picture to the left.
The wind blown enclosure does not trap asbestos fibers but merely covers and hides the activities inside the building.
The ‘enclosure’ let asbestos dust escape to the air and asbestos debris falls to the ground, showing the unsafe asbestos removal.
Please visit the TUCP article with pictures at http://www.tucp.org.ph/news/index.php/2009/08/tucp-concerned-that-asbestos-puts-workers-at-risk-at-manila-thermal-power-plant-calls-on-government-to-verify-reports/