A home gets covered in a shower of asbestos

Australian home gets covered in a shower of asbestos

Buderim, Australia – A Buderim family returned home to discover the outside of their house, including the veranda and garden, covered in asbestos.

Wayne and Sandra Smith said they recognized it as asbestos immediately because through running a painting and decorating business, they were very familiar with the dangerous substance. The couple soon learned that the asbestos came from the house next door, which had been receiving renovation work since last year.

Workers had apparently used a water blaster on the roof of the neighboring house, an act most people in the business know not to do. The water caused the Smiths’ home to be covered in a shower of asbestos fibers.

When Mr. Smith contacted the building company, the person he spoke to denied being responsible and hung up on him.

The couple and their three children have evacuated their home over fears for their health and are currently staying with relatives. They contacted Workplace Health and Safety personnel who then sealed off their home and brought in a team to conduct asbestos testing.

Officials have deemed it safe for them to live in their house as long as they don’t open any doors and windows, but the family is not taking any chances with the neighboring house yet to be inspected.

The family’s laundry, which had been hanging on the line in the backyard to dry, will have to be discarded as the clothes are no longer safe to be worn.

Workplace has confirmed that it is investigating the matter to determine who will be held accountable.

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