July 20th, 2007

A pensioner from the UK has caused an asbestos scare after removing asbestos from a church roof. The pensioner meant well when he removed the asbestos laden lagging from the church in Newington, UK, but then placed it all in black bin bags rather than going through the proper disposal channels.

Specialist contractors were meant to be removing the asbestos, but were beaten to it by the eighty year-old man. The contractors did turn up to do the work, which is when they found the asbestos bagged up in standard black garbage bags. Traces of asbestos were found around the church, and officials from the UK's Health and Safety Executive then had to be called in.

According to reports the pensioner, a church volunteer, had removed the lagging and had been unaware that it contained asbestos. This is a substance that can cause a range of health problems through exposure, including a form of cancer known as mesothelioma.

One health official from the Health and Safety Executive stated: "We carried out a full investigation and all of the people who used the church over the weekend were notified of what happened. It was clear that the gentleman did this with good intent and, as far as we are concerned, the matter has now been dealt with."