Occupational health and hygiene following a fire in a warehouse with an asbestos cement roof

This paper deals with the occupational health and hygiene advice that was given in the immediate aftermath and clean-up period of a major fire in a large warehouse with an asbestos cement roof. Work on site was carefully monitored and we believe that no health hazards occurred subsequent to the fire, in particular only very low levels of asbestos were detected during the clean-up. In addition, the need to disseminate information as widely and as rapidly as possible to the workforce and others following such a disaster is emphasized.