The derelict former Dowty factory in Mrieħel has been closed off, after a roof collapse left exposed slabs of the carcinogenic material asbestos. But the broken windows and the fallen roof remain unsealed, fuelling fears that asbestos fibres could become airborne and be blown beyond the factory space.
The health authorities on November 3 gave a three-day day notice for removal of the hazardous material to Malta Industrial Parks (MIP), which is responsible for the factory, but the state-owned company says the deadline was impossible to meet as the material needs to be removed by authorised hired personnel. Instead, the factory's metal gate was chained and padlocked and three walls were built around the perimeter to stop people from entering the place.
The toxic substance is hazardous when airborne since it is made of tiny fibres that are easily inhaled. It is particularly dangerous when being transported, unless covered in plastic and disposed of carefully.
The risk is that the exposed material could be blown away in a storm, even though respiratory disease experts say people living or working in the area are not at risk provided they are not in close proximity of the broken asbestos.
In a short comment the Health Department told The Times that they are considering the arguments made by the MIP but that they are not excluding the possibility of legal action.
"Without excluding the possibility of legal action, we will be taking the necessary action accordingly," a spokesman said without going into specifics when questioned further.
Alan Camilleri, the chairman of Malta Enterprise which owns the MIP, confirmed that he had received the notice to clear the asbestos in three days. But he said it was not possible to meet the deadline.
"The removal of asbestos in that quantity requires a detailed removal and decontamination process which will start once the supplier is chosen," he said. The authorities began to investigate the collapse around two weeks ago, after this newspaper sent questions to the Occupational Health and Safety Authority.
Asbestos, the "miracle mineral" as it was sometimes referred to in the industry, was used extensively for insulation and fireproofing until the late 1970s, before the full extent of the health hazards it poses were accepted.
A number of other factories in the area contain asbestos which needs to be removed. However, the substance does not pose a health risk unless it is broken down and its fibres exposed.
Diseases caused by asbestos usually take between 10 to 40 years to develop before showing any symptoms. Around the world, people who installed asbestos during the 1970s have just started to realise they were developing cancer at an alarming rate. The risks are increased dramatically for smokers.
Just last month the family of a shipyard worker who died from exposure to asbestos in 1997 was awarded over €103,000 in damages by the courts.
The former boilermaker, Joseph Fenech, had stopped working at the 'yard in 1995 as a result of his illness, a cancer known as mesothelioma. He died two years later aged 55.