After the asbestos alarm at the New Campus Borlänge, NCC offers everyone on-site spirometry at the company’s health department. The Swedish Work Environment Authority has now reviewed the incidents involving asbestos exposure and is ready with its conclusion.
New Campus Borlänge. Photo: Tom M Kronestedt
At the end of January, the NCC construction New Campus Borlänge was stopped after suspected asbestos exposure. After cutting a transformer that was to be shipped away, it was found to contain asbestos. Now the extent of the exposure has been investigated and clarified.
According to the NCC, asbestos has been found in rooms adjacent to the transformer room. The test results also showed a rash in a nearby elevator and stairwell. However, no asbestos was found on other levels of the house.
Worried construction workers
Anders Ax, regional safety representative at Byggnads in GävleDala, describes a concern among the construction workers who have been and worked on site and who suspect that they may have been exposed to asbestos.
– According to our calculations, there are around 50 people who passed through spaces that showed asbestos during sampling. They are concerned that the fibers were in the air and that they were exposed. Many also feel that they have not received the information they want and need, he says.
Offers spirometry
However, he thinks it is good that NCC offered all construction workers a lung function test – spirometry – through company health. Developing diseases from asbestos takes many years, but spirometry gives a daily picture of the lungs.
The Swedish Work Environment Authority was on site last week and is ready with its conclusions.
– After asbestos was detected, all companies involved acted quickly and took measures against the problems, says work environment inspector Jens Skantz.
The authority will not make any demands against the companies involved.
Air sample required
– The problem is that no one knows how much asbestos was in the air. The tape samples only show traces of the fibers, not whether it is close to the limit or not. To know that, you have to take air samples, says Jens Skantz.
– What we do know, however, is that there were no large amounts of insulation in the transformer.
Should anyone have known that there could be asbestos in the transformer? According to Jens Skantz, there was no general knowledge in the energy industry.
– But it is important to inform about this now, because more transformers will be demolished, he says.
Known asbestos is also found in the house in other forms, in black glue and in doors.
– But there NCC has control and a plan for what to do and a clean-up company is involved.
“Difficult to judge”
This is how Cecilia Granath, interim press manager at NCC, responds in an email to the questions about the asbestos exposure:
According to Byggnad’s assessment, an estimated 50 people may have passed through areas exposed to risk. Does it match your picture?
“The results of the sampling have shown that asbestos was found on a limited surface. It is difficult to assess how many people on the construction site may have passed through this space. No production work has been carried out in this area, in which case it is about people who have only passed by the space. Given the size of the project, our assessment is in line with Byggnads’.
What is happening with remediation and the like now?
“The cleanup work is ongoing. The surfaces that are contaminated are wrapped in plastic and closed off”.
According to the union, several construction workers have expressed concern about exposure. What information has the staff at the workplace received?
“We fully understand that people are worried. At the workplace, we have informed about which parts of the building have become contaminated. Each employee is offered a conversation with a doctor with the opportunity to ask questions. We have also had work environment engineers from NCC on site at the project to answer any questions”.
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