The world famous La Scala opera house in Milan has had to close a section of seating after deadly asbestos was found in the ceiling.

The opera house has blocked off a seating area in an upper gallery so that the asbestos can be safely removed.The work, expected to be finished by October, will be carried out during the night, so that rehearsals and performances can go ahead as scheduled. It comes as the opera house prepares to reopen after a summer break with the ballet “A Midsummer’s Night Dream,” with the first performance on Saturday.A spokesman said the asbestos was found in a “very limited” section of a lighting area near a ceiling cornice back in December, when it was immediately sealed.Health officials were monitoring the situation and had found no evidence that the asbestos fibres had spread, said Carlo Maria Cella.Around 270 seats in the opera theatre’s top loggia will be sealed off. Ticketholders will be offered “upgrades” to better seats or their money back.Commissioned by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, La Scala opened in 1778 and has become one of the world’s best known opera houses.Many of the best known names in Italian opera have had their works performed there, including Bellini, Rossini and Verdi.La Scala’s official season begins on Dec 7 with a lavish gala night.  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/6123434/Asbestos-closes-La-Scala-opera-house.html By Nick Squires in Rome
Published: 7:00AM BST 02 Sep 2009

UNION chiefs are calling for more to be done to safeguard teachers and pupils from asbestos in schools.

 Eighty-eight per cent of the borough’s 69 schools have been found to have traces of the building material.The figures, gathered under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, show asbestos was found in 92 per cent of South Tyneside’s primary schools, 89 per cent of secondary schools, 80 per cent of special schools, and half of nursery schools.

 http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/Asbestos-found-in-most-of.5640737.jp    

A fifty eight year old woman from Birmingham in the UK is thought to have contracted the asbestos related cancer, mesothelioma, as a result of hugging her father as a child and being exposed to asbestos fibers and dust from his work clothing and skin.The woman, Judith Tomlinson, is thought to have suffered secondary exposure to the deadly substance as a result of hugging her father when he came home from work. He worked with asbestos at the former Mason McCabe plant in the area.Judith stated in a recent interview: “My father would turn in his grave if he knew he may be responsible for giving me this cancer. I look at the happy picture of him giving me away at my wedding and think it’s terrible that he may be to blame for this cancer, but it’s his company’s fault, not his.”She added: “Dad was always dusty from work and would come in and sit, and have a rest and a cup of tea before having a bath. I was daddy’s girl as I was just like him, so when he got in from work, I wanted to be around him. I helped my mother with the chores, which included putting my dad’s work clothes in our old-fashioned twin tub washing machine. They were so filthy that they had to go through a wash on their own.”http://www.bloggernews.net/12200       Posted on August 27th, 2009

YOUNGSTERS at a Doncaster school will see their summer holidays extended into next week because of asbestos problems. The potentially deadly substance was found under the floorboards at Edlington Victoria Primary School as heating engineers carried out work to improve the heading system.It means the school will be closed on Monday and could remain shut for up to two weeks, according the Doncaster Council education bosses.

Several events have already had to be called off during the summer holidays which had been planned for the building, but it had been expected work to remove the fibres would have been completed by the start of term.

Doncaster Council says the school will be shut while contractors continue with a programme of work which has suffered delays.

A spokesman for the education authority said the school’s headteacher Janice Middleton was currently exploring other ways of delivering education for the pupils. Possibilities may include using a community room or rooms at other neighbouring schools in the town.

The council is also looking at a possible phased return.

The authority says it is aware that any closure of the school will effect parents’ childcare arrangements.

Headteacher Mrs Middleton, said: “Following the discovery of asbestos in heating ducts below ground in the school during the summer holidays there is still some essential safety work to be carried out before pupils and staff can access the building.“The health and safety of our children and staff is paramount and we are working closely with the contractors in order for children to return to school as quickly as possible.”

Doncaster Council has stressed staff and pupils have not been put at risk at any point.

www.thestar.co.uk (05.09.09)

http://www.thestar.co.uk/doncaster/School-stays-shut-as-asbestos.5619747.jp 

The widow of a former train driver who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in April 2008 and died, aged 74, in June 2009 has described how her husband’s colleagues used to make “snowballs” from asbestos.

At his inquest at Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner’s Court, the coroner heard details of how Frank White became exposed to asbestos during part of his 47 years working for British Rail in Derby. While training to be a driver he cleaned fire boxes lined with asbestos.

Speaking after his inquest, his widow, Freda, 80, said, “Frank would tell me about how some of the workers would make snowballs out of the asbestos to throw at each other while they were messing about, or make it into a football and kick it about.”

In recording a verdict of death by industrial disease, Louise Pinder, deputy coroner for Derby and South Derbyshire, said she was satisfied Mr White’s mesothelioma was brought about by his exposure to asbestos during his time working for British Rail.

http://www.croner.co.uk/croner/jsp/Editorial.do?channelId=-291896&contentId=1343466&Failed_Reason=No+BVCookie+present+to+retrieve+the+session.&Failed_Page=%2fjsp%2fEditorial.do&BV_UseBVCookie=No  (03.09.09)

Follow this link to see an old advert advocating the use of asbestos - very interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQeZrnD7O9E�

Every week 20 tradesmen die from asbestos-related disease. If you carry out work on a building that was built or refurbished before the year 2000, you could have been exposed to asbestos, without even knowing it.

Asbestos is a hidden killer. So now’s the time to get clued up on the facts, so that you, your workmates, your friends and family are protected.

Find out more information of the HSE’s Hidden Killer campaign click the link below.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/hiddenkiller/index.htm

Published Date: 27 August 2009

By JOHN ROSS

HUNDREDS of householders have been warned that a major fire in a nearby industrial estate could have sent asbestos dust into the air.

 Residents have been urged to take precautions, although council and health officials say the risk is low.The blaze broke out in a warehouse used by haulage firm M&H Carriers in Carsegate Road in Inverness on Tuesday, sending a huge pall of smoke  over the city which could be seen for up to 20 miles. People living and working nearby had to be evacuated as nearly 30 firefighters tackled the blaze.The building was demolished for safety reasons following the outbreak, but experts were concerned its roof contained asbestos cement sheeting and that dust and ash may have contaminated the surrounding area.

William Gilfillan, the council’s corporate manager, advised residents who find dust or ash on hard surfaces inside a house should wipe it down with a damp cloth which should then be disposed of. He said paths and steps outside should also be washed down 

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Residents-near-warehouse-blaze-warned.5591701.jp

On the 12^th July 2009 all members of ‘Team NIC’ successfully completed the 60 mile bike ride from Manchester United’s Ground at Old Trafford to Blackpool’s South Promenade.

The ride commenced at 8.30am, the team consisted of 14 riders – Andy Costello, Ross Campbell, Dave Barnes, Paul Walsh, Ash Murray, Ron Wolstenholme, Stuart Downing, James Rudd, Karl McCaffrey, Mick Smith, Shirley Smith, Dean Bagley, Paul Abbott & Simon Elwood.

Andy Costello was the first rider to complete the ride finishing in 4 hours and 7 minutes, the last rider to come in took 9 hours.

Team NIC would like to thank all the sponsors who supported them on this event. Team NIC raised over £1,500.00 for Christies.

Be sure to subscribe to our monthly newsletter this month to be in for the chance of winning two open dated tickets to the UK’s leading theme park - Alton Towers.

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