Asbestos stored outdoors at the Fairmont Southampton construction site had been partially transferred to containers on Saturday
Bags of asbestos that were sitting outdoors in a lot below the Fairmont Southampton Hotel and the Boundary Sports Bar had been partially transferred to storage containers on Saturday.
An abatement air sampling device was in operation, taped to a lamppost beside the lot.
On Sunday, the site was gated, with signage and barriers preventing access and restricting views.
Bermuda Broadcasting understands that the material, removed from the hotel during renovations, had been stored at the lot under plastic sheeting since at least mid-December.
Photos shared with BBC show that the bags had been uncovered at times, possibly due to high winds.
The asbestos had become a source of concern for nearby residents, prompting a Bermuda Broadcasting report on Thursday.
Hotel owners Westend Properties responded on Friday, with a spokesperson advising that four containers were brought to the site that day, and an additional three containers would be on site on Saturday “to ensure sealed asbestos abatement bags are properly stored and prepared for prompt removal.”
The spokesperson also advised that they “adhere to all established protocols governing the handling and disposal of asbestos materials related to the construction work underway at the property.”
However, due to a delay in the scheduled collection process, they “were instructed to temporarily and securely store the sealed materials on-site until pickup could be completed.”
Last week, Bermuda Broadcasting reached out to Environmental Health to ask if the asbestos had been removed and stored in line with asbestos abatement safety protocols, and for details of any environmental health inspections performed at the site.
We await a response from Government.
