Asbestos Detected at Government Building

Asbestos has been detected at the new wing of Government Building in Suva, prompting swift action from the National Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Services of the Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Workplace Relations.

The presence of the hazardous material was flagged by the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs earlier this month.

Acting Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity, and Workplace Relations, Atish Kumar, confirmed that the asbestos has been contained for now, and assured that the detected levels did not pose an immediate risk to personnel working within the building or surrounding area.

“The detected samples were sent to Australia for analysis, and the results confirmed the presence of asbestos,” Mr Kumar said.

The Permanent Secretary for Defence and Veteran Affairs, Mason Smith, said necessary steps had been taken to mitigate any risks associated with the asbestos, ensuring the safety and security of civil servants working in the building.

Mr Smith said they were proactively engaging with several government bodies, including the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the Ministry of Policing, the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Civil Service, the Ministry of Immigration, and the Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Workplace Relations, to address the health risks and minimise disruption to government operations.

“The wellbeing and security of our workers and citizens are paramount, and we remain committed to maintaining proper security and safety for our citizens,” Mr Smith said.

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