Asbestos workers, supervisors and officers from the Department of Health's Environmental Health section have just completed Government's asbestos abatement course.

Participants in the annual five-day course received training and testing in the areas of safe asbestos handling and removal, by Bermudian asbestos expert Bob Olander.

Asbestos can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases when breathed in as loose fibres. For the past several decades it has been removed from buildings to prevent a potential health hazard to the public.

Chief Environmental Health Officer, David Kendell said: "Many of the worker protection issues and solutions applicable to asbestos abatement, including the safe use of respirators, are akin to toxic mould remediation. The Environmental Health Section proposes to hold a workers and supervisors course for mould remediation in the Fall for our own officers and we would like to invite interested parties to join us in the training."

l To learn more about the mould remediation course contact 278-4976 or email dskendell@gov.bm.