Karl Schembri
The Gozo General Hospital is home to asbestos ceilings waiting to be removed, MaltaToday has confirmed.
Asbestos false ceilings are found in the hospital corridors, operating theatre, the radiology department and the coronary care unit. Banned from buildings because of their link to cancer, they were installed in the early 1970s, when the hospital was built, to cover pipes suspended from the ceilings.
A spokesperson for the Gozo minister Giovanna Debono has confirmed the presence of asbestos in hospital.
“The removal of this false asbestos ceiling is being carried out in phases and is linked to the ongoing hospital refurbishment programme since it also involves the changing of underlying services and the installation of a new ceiling,” the spokesperson said.
Asbestos has already been removed from other areas in the hospital, including the emergency department, female geriatric ward, maternity and gynaecology ward, doctors’ quarters, kitchen and the physiotherapy department.
Earlier this month, the ministry issued a call for tenders for the removal of asbestos in parts of the hospital, in procedures that are highly complicated because of the health risks involved.
In fact, material made from asbestos can be fatal when it is damaged or disturbed. Drilling, cutting, hitting and handling of asbestos ceilings exposes very fine loose fibres that can be inhaled, leading to lung diseases and cancer.
While the presence of asbestos stirs widespread fears linked to fatal cases of workers exposed unknowingly to this highly toxic mineral, the president of the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses, Paul Pace, says issue will only arise once the ceiling will start being removed.
“The removal is the real issue, as that’s where dangerous fibres are released and there’s a risk that they are inhaled,” Pace said.
“In the past we’ve had cases at Mount Carmel Hospital where asbestos ceilings were being removed without any safety precautions, so we had ordered all the staff out of the building.
“As long as they follow standard health and safety procedures while removing it, then it should not be an issue.”
The Gozo ministry said all removal works and disposal of asbestos will be treated in accordance with EU directives so that workers, patients and hospital staff are protected from any hazards.
“Such works entail the closing down of a particular ward or section for a number of weeks and therefore programmed works ensure that disruption of services and the day to day running of the hospital is kept to a minimum,” the spokesperson said.
She added: “Any decisions have always been taken in accordance with the Guide on best Practice issued by the Senior Labour Inspectors Committee of the European Union Commission, which states that ‘the alternative outcome to removal is that the asbestos-containing materials could be made safe (by being kept in good repair, or being enclosed), and be monitored and managed in place’.”

kschembri@mediatoday.com.mt

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