CFMEU ACT safety officers uncovered dangerous removal of asbestos from Pickles Auction House in Fyshwick on Friday October 9. WorkCover ACT has placed a prohibition notice the worksite due to the danger that it poses to the public.

It has also been revealed that the ACT Planning and Land Authority has ordered that the site be closed, as the company removing the asbestos did not seek approval for any redevelopment of the site.

Australasian Technical Services (ATS), the company involved in the exposure incident, subsequently had their asbestos removal license suspended.

See ACT Branch news articles.

Below are photos taken by CFMEU officials inspecting safety breach at Pickles. These photos highlight how dangerous this situation was to workers and the community.

A pile of broken asbestos sheeting only meters from the public access to Pickles Auction House.

A car, ready for sale, covered in debris from the removal of asbestos at the site.

Workers on the roof, removing the sheets of asbestos with no fall protection and without the proper safety gear.

This is the decontamination unit used by workers to clean themselves after working with this highly hazardous material.

• Read more about some of the shocking practices which have become commonplace in the ACT due to poor government regulation.
• Read more about what the CFMEU recommends as best practice in removing asbestos.

For more information, please contact the ACT Branch office on 02. 6267 1599.