A number of questions have been asked following the discovery of asbestos at Alderney Airport Fire Station.
Alderney States Member Alex Snowdon, who also sits in the States of Guernsey, has written to the Policy and Resources Committee asking what precautions were in place between dust samples being taken and the positive asbestos results being received 11 days later.
He’s also asked what medical advice, occupational health support, and ongoing monitoring has been offered to current and former staff who may have been exposed to the potentially deadly fibres while working inside the decades-old fire station building.
P&R has said the questions need to be directed to the States Trading Supervisory Board which now has them.
Concerns were raised last week when Guernsey Ports confirmed that the Fire and Rescue team could not work in the airport fire station for the time being.
Mr Snowdon has asked what measures were introduced to protect their families and the wider public by preventing contamination of clothing, equipment, vehicles, and staff members’ homes, and what support has been made available to the affected firefighters and their families.
The asbestos was found last month following a routine annual inspection carried out by an asbestos specialist contractor.
Dust and debris samples from one of the vehicle bays were collected on 24 September, with the results coming back positive for asbestos on 5 October.
Guernsey Ports confirmed that the Airport Fire Station building at Alderney Airport was vacated immediately as “a precautionary measure” with the Fire and Rescue team moved to Ayline House at Alderney Airport temporarily.
Specialist assessments and further testing are now underway at the circa-60-year-old building.
“As with many buildings of a similar age, asbestos-containing materials have historically been identified and managed in accordance with relevant statutory requirements,” said a spokesperson for Guernsey Ports.
“The presence of asbestos-containing materials does not present a risk where those materials remain in good condition and are appropriately managed. The focus of the current investigations is to establish whether the condition of materials within the building has changed and to determine any implications for the future use and management of the fire station.”
“The wellbeing of our staff remains our highest priority, which is why this precautionary action was taken as soon as concerns were identified. Airport Fire and Rescue Service staff will continue to operate from alternative accommodation while this work progresses. Alderney Airport continues to operate as normal.”
The whole of Alderney airport, including its runway, was previously approved for replacement but the work could not be carried out within the agreed budget of £24 million.
Instead, the States of Guernsey separated out plans for the buildings and the runway to keep them affordable.
Both remain part of the Major Projects Portfolio, meaning the States will again look at funding them.
The States of Guernsey – which has ultimate responsibility for Alderney’s airport and harbour – is due to discuss the latest plans for the airport again in the future.
Mr Snowdon has also asked questions of P&R related to the number of cancelled flights to and from Alderney, problems with the runway lighting, the runway classification, medevacs and more.
He asked the questions under the Rule 14 mechanism meaning P&R and STSB have to answer within a fortnight.
