8:43p.m. 23rd March 2008

| By Alan Lander

A house in Panorama Crescent, Buderim, where asbestos is being removed. Photo:Barry Leddicoat/ 173564c

A Buderim family has been forced out of their home after it was engulfed by a shower of asbestos fibres from renovation work on a house next door.

Wayne and Sandra Smith and their three children may have to stay with relatives for a week until it is safe to re-enter their Panorama Crescent home after the asbestos-filled roof of the neighbouring house was water-blasted last week.

The Smiths’ rental house, garden and veranda – even the washing on the line – was covered in a fine “papier-mache” powder late last Wednesday.

Mr Smith, a painter and decorator of 28 years, said the house has been getting renovated since last year.

“The builders got up to clean the roof down with a water-blaster – one of the big three no-nos in this business.

“The fibres covered everything.”

The family arrived home to discover the mess after collecting their children from school.

“We saw all this crap all over the house and garden,” Mr Smith said.

“We run a painting and decorating business ourselves – we knew right away it was asbestos.

“I was fuming. They have put our family’s life in danger,” he said.

Mr Smith said he contacted the builder and “gave him a mouthful”.

“He denied it and said it was the owner’s problem.

“I said ‘it’s your problem’ and he hung up.”

Mr Smith said workplace health and safety personnel had been contacted, the house sealed off and an asbestos team performed swab and air tests on his home.

“We are staying with family at the moment,” she said.

“They did the air testing on Friday and have given the all-clear but nothing has been done on the house next door.”

The house may not be given the all-clear for seven days and the Smiths are not keen to take any chances even though they have been told they can return home if they keep all their doors and windows closed.

As well as the trauma of the incident, all the family’s washing, which was on the line at the time, will have to be replaced as it is not safe to wear again.

Workplace health and safety regional operations manager Dennis O’Connor confirmed an investigation was underway.

“We can’t make any further comment until we have all the facts and figures,” he said.

The owner of the renovated house lives in Hong Kong and it was unclear if he was aware of the situation.