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Haaretz - Israel News - Lack of insurance keeps state inspectors from asbestos sites
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Last update - 10:41 19/01/2006
Lack of insurance keeps state inspectors from asbestos sites
By Zafrir Rinat, Haaretz Correspondent
The Environment Ministry stopped dealing with asbestos contamination about two months ago due to disputes regarding insurance for its inspectors.
Meanwhile, the problem is growing in severity in various locations in the country.The ministry has reported there are hundreds of contaminated site that have gone untreated, many of them residences and schools.
The situation is particularly severe in Nahariya, where a factory produced the material for years.
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It was suggested in the past that the Environment Ministry provide its inspectors insurance during their tenure with the ministry only, because asbestos-related cancer develops decades after exposure to the material.
Another suggestion made by Finance Ministry officials was to acquire inspectors from outside suppliers, which would exempt the state from having to provide insurance.
However, according to an opinion written by the legal bureau of the Environment Ministry, it is forbidden to hire outside contractors...
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