Jails to be surveyed for asbestos

Nova Scotia, Candada - Following the discovery of asbestos at the Cape Breton Correctional Facility which led to several guards refusing to come to work, air-quality testing will be conducted at two other jails in the province.

Minister Cecil Clarke from the Department of Justice announced Tuesday that the Antigonish and Cumberland county jails will also undergo an asbestos investigation. He also insisted that his department followed the correct guidelines in dealing with the discovery of asbestos at Cape Breton, despite claims from some of the facility's guards that they were given late notice of the findings.

According to government policy regarding asbestos, all occupants in any building must be notified immediately once the deadly material is found. Clarke was criticized by New Democrat Bill Estabrooks for ignoring the health and safety of the jail's employees and its more than 75 inmates.

The Labor Department is currently conducting an investigation to find out whether rules were broken regarding the dissemination of information to the guards. It is trying to determine when correctional officials relayed the information to the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union. Once department officials complete the investigation, they promised to reveal what they learn.

The latest air-quality results from the Cape Breton facility is expected to be released Wednesday.

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