Hail and asbestos roofs


In November 2014, a massive hail storm hit Brisbane, Australia doing some AUD 1 bilion dollars of damage.

ABC News

ABC News

Tens of thousands of cars were written off (including one of mine) and hail repairs to cars will continue for a year.

I lost 5 windows due to the high wind driving the hail horizontally. I replaced most with polycarbonate – they are now brick proof.

The wind came from the south, and  as solar photovoltaic panels usually face North, many were spared.

However, many old corregated aspbestos roofs were peppered with holes and there must be hundreds of roofs being replaced under insurance. Walking around my suburb it is quite clear that the asbestos contractors know little about the hazard or their obligations under the Queensland legislation.

  • Water sprays were always on the ground, unused. There is total reliance on PPE.
  • No special care care is taken lifting asbestos roofing sheets to minimise the relaease of the huge amount of respirable asbestos fibres generated over decades of thermal expansion and contraction
  • Coveralls are optionsal – some contractors use them, but others allow street clothing
  • Beards are allowed
  • Respirators are used, but often taken off in the heat whilst stripping the roofs
  • There appears to be little or no oversight by regulators for Workplaces or Public Health

Two of the three houses over the road have had their asbestos roofs replaced.

The situation is much the same as the unchecked widespread water blasting of asbetos walls after the 2011 Brisbane flood.

Street clothes no PPE

Street clothes no PPE