A former employee of a company that does asbestos removal has charged the controversial material is being improperly handled and that he lost his job when he raised the issue with management.

Leonard Swan claims he was sacked last Thursday from Total Environmental Solutions (TES Ltd.) because he wanted the company to properly store and dispose of asbestos roofing, which is presently being held at the HWP warehouse off Serpentine Road.

Mr. Swan said he had five years experience in asbestos abatement and was specially trained in its safe removal.

"I know what I am talking about," he said. "This material should be double wrapped in six-millimetre poly and sealed in a container. Then it should be taken to the Government quarry where it can be properly stored.

He added: "Some of it is exposed and not even covered up and all the guys down there are worried about it."

TES president Territt Sargeant told The Royal Gazette he fired Mr. Swan because he had physically threatened other staff members as opposed to any asbestos-related matter.

Mr. Sargeant said he received special permission from the Health Department to store the asbestos - which was removed from the roof of Police Club in Propect - until a container arrives from the United States.

"The asbestos that the former employee referred to is properly stored and covered and the relevant authorities and consultants are aware of the situation," added Don MacKenzie of Air Care Ltd., TES's parent company.

"The asbestos is non-friable and poses no threat to anyone. The asbestos in question will be wrapped and disposed as per regulations."

Non-friable asbestos is considered low risk because after removal it does not break down into airborne particles, rather it remains inert in larger pieces.

Following complaints from Mr. Swan and other HWP staff, Government Health and Safety officer Harry Powell visited the site Friday and confirmed to The Royal Gazette that the asbestos being stored poses no health risk.

Mr. Powell said responsibility for asbestos abatement actually falls to Roger Mello of the Health Department.

Mr. Mello was on vacation last week, however, and Mr. Powell confirmed the material TES was holding was non-friable, but observed:

"From my perspective, the correct procedures for handling asbestos have not been followed. It wasn't wrapped on the (removal) site and stored properly.

"But the material is on a secure premises, next to the HWP yard. There is essentially no health risk from it to the public or the workers."

While callers to The Royal Gazette on Friday claimed Mr. Sargeant was trying to hide the asbestos after speaking to the media on Thursday, the TES president stringently denied the accusation.

"I am not trying to hide anything," he said. "I met with Harry Powell at the site today and he told me, he's happy.

"This ex-employee wants to take me down. He's disgruntled because he's been dismissed. But I have everything in writing."

Mr. Sargeant said Mr. Mello is aware of how the asbestos tile is being stored while the company awaits a container.

"The material is covered," he said. "To me it's a no-brainer."

Mr. Sargeant suggested Mr. Swan convinced others to complain on Friday because he is miffed about his sacking.

He pointed out that the same materials that are in the asbestos tile being stored are in the roof of the HWP building and any number of buildings around the Island.