Nu Tech Demolition & Asbestos Removal pleads guilty to asbestos charge

A Hadfield company has been criticised after its worksite left the public and workers exposed to asbestos. See the details here.

A Hadfield company was found guilty of exposing its workers to asbestos at a Watsonia North site. Picture: Supplied

A Melbourne asbestos removal company has been slammed as “shameful” for exposing their workers and the public to asbestos fibres found at its worksite.

Nu Tech Demolition & Asbestos Removal fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court over its failure to eliminate or reduce the exposure of airborne asbestos fibres as well as failing to produce documents to an inspector. The Hadfield company pleaded guilty to the charges.

WorkSafe received a public tip-off in 2021 that asbestos fibres were present at the company’s Watsonia North worksite.

Police were called on to intervene after workers at the site tried to use a truck to remove a loaded skip containing asbestos fibres in the cement sheets and debris.

After WorkSafe secured the site and issued a non-disturbance notice, workers returned to the site to remove the truck and the skip.

Police searched for the truck but samples collected from the site confirmed traces of asbestos.

Dr Narelle Barr slammed Nu Demolition for failing to reply to WorkSafe’s requests following the asbestos discovery.

“Inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to severe and sometimes deadly diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma,’’ Dr Barr said.

“It’s extremely shameful that this company not only put workers and the public at risk of asbestos exposure but also refused to cooperate with WorkSafe throughout the process.”

Nu Tech was fined $25,500 and ordered to pay costs.