Yeongdeungpo-gu Completes Maintenance of District-Owned Asbestos Buildings

From 2018 to 2023, a total of 23 former asbestos buildings owned by the district have been dismantled and removed... Asbestos material usage area over 50㎡ includes district offices, community centers, and facility management corporations... District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon: "Private asbestos buildings reduced to 84 to minimize resident harm and create a safe environment"

Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) recently announced the completion of asbestos dismantling and removal at a total of 23 district-owned buildings, with Daerim 3-dong Community Center being the last.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral found in rocks. Classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO), prolonged exposure can cause lung cancer, asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma, and other diseases. Asbestos buildings refer to public buildings and multi-use facilities where asbestos materials have been used over a total area of 50㎡ or more.

Accordingly, the district established the "Plan for Asbestos Dismantling and Removal of District-Owned Asbestos Buildings" in 2018 to protect residents' health from asbestos and has been conducting asbestos dismantling and removal work annually.

The district completed asbestos dismantling and removal at a total of 23 sites (including the district office, health center, and community centers), starting with 2 sites in 2018, 12 sites in 2019, 7 sites in 2020, 1 site in 2021, and finally 1 site at Daerim 3-dong Community Center in 2023.

The dismantling work was carried out by specialized companies targeting public buildings where the total area of asbestos materials used was 50㎡ or more, in accordance with the "Asbestos Safety Management Act." For buildings over 500㎡, asbestos dispersion concentration was measured, and for those over 800㎡, supervisors were appointed during asbestos dismantling work.

The district has actively encouraged asbestos dismantling and removal not only in district-owned asbestos buildings but also in private asbestos buildings, continuously conducting safety management inspections. As a result, the number of asbestos buildings decreased from 172 sites in 2017 to 84 sites currently.

The district conducts asbestos concentration measurements, safety manager training completion, management ledger preparation, and checks for damage to asbestos building materials, guiding voluntary improvements through administrative measures.

Meanwhile, the district is actively promoting asbestos damage prevention activities such as supporting the replacement of asbestos slate roofs and managing asbestos building dismantling and removal sites.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, "Completing the asbestos dismantling and removal of district-owned asbestos buildings this year has strengthened residents' safety in daily life. We will continue to do our best to minimize residents' harm from various hazardous substances and create a safe living environment."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.