Why are the workers inside the building wearing white suits and masks?
A. These are normal precautions necessary in work such as this to protect the workers from inhaling dust and getting any potential contaminated material on their bodies or clothes. The suits are removed at the end of the work period and the workers will pass through a showering area to remove any debris before they leave the site. The risk of any contamination is very low, but it’s a risk nonetheless and therefore one we have to take seriously. The contractors involved are licensed by the Health and Safety Executive to carry out the removal of asbestos. There were many different types of shops within the Market Hall and some products will be rotting, which could cause some problems for workers if they are not protected. Also, there may be some short term irritant effects from some of the materials, for people working on the site, so we need to protect against these as well.