Works at the Suva Civic Centre building has been ceased from yesterday to improve safe work procedures on asbestos material removal.
Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Jone Usamate, has confirmed this follows the release of the assessment report from Pacific Environmental Services and Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.
The Minister specifically stressed that the asbestos identified in the SPREP report received yesterday contains 30 per cent of asbestos from the bulk material tested and is not airborne.
SCC has been directed and is currently working on sealing off all the building openings and have cordoned off the surrounding areas with immediate effect.
Usamate says Enforcement officers of the National OHS Service have been dealing with the issue since the start of the demolition works on the site and SCC as the owner of the building have been issued with a directive for all workers and contractors to vacate the site immediately.
The Minister is advising members to refrain from travelling through Town Hall Road or near the Suva Civic Centre.
