Builders warned of asbestos danger

The discovery of asbestos at a Sydney landmark is a timely reminder for builders to remain vigilant about the dangers of the building material.

The New South Wales branch of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has accused WorkCover of not doing enough for builders working on the $50 million extension currently underway at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) after the discovery of asbestos in the mortar.

According to CFMEU state secretary Brian Parker, up to 400 workers had spent the past week "worrying about whether they had breathed in asbestos fibres" after receiving letters from their employer.

Mr Parker also highlighted that the use of the carcinogenic material was highly likely, as the MCA was built in the 1950s - a time when asbestos was one of the main resources used in construction.

"It was obvious there could have been endless issues around asbestos on this site,” he said.

Tradies are reminded to keep the possibility of asbestos in the back of their mind when dealing with buildings constructed before 1990 and should adhere to safe work practices and disposal laws at all times.