Government should have taken the asbestos contamination at the former Club Med hotel in St. George's more seriously, thus, avoiding its exposure to workers last week, according to a Senator.

A stop order was placed on demolition work at the site last Friday, after asbestos was disturbed. The site was being cleared to make way for a new five-star hotel development by Hustle Truck workers.

Since then, the Ministry of Works and Engineering, responsible for the demolition work, has been criticised for not having the proper supervision in place to ensure safety against the deadly mineral.

In the Senate chamber yesterday, Opposition Senator Charlie Swan said even he knew of the extensiveness of the asbestos problem years ago.

He said: "I've had the opportunity with my company to have been solicited to do some work there (Club Med), in addition to being told by the then Club Med owners, 'whoever buys this building is going to have some work to do.'

"They said that because there were no buyers interested in the place and also, there was an asbestos problem.

"I don't know how that in 2007 men are being put at risk to demolish this building knowing there was asbestos in place."

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung disease, which is made worse by smoking.

In general, the EPA states that the greater the exposure to asbestos (by inhaling the airborne particles), the greater the chance of developing harmful health effects. And disease symptoms may take several years to develop following exposure.

Sen. Swan then referred to an article in yesterday's Royal Gazette in which a former Health Department inspector claimed Bermuda currently has insufficient guidelines for dealing with the dangerous mineral.

But he was briefly interrupted by Government Sen. Wayne Caines who seemed to object to The Royal Gazette being referenced as "an authority" on current events.

Sen. Swan continued: "I'm just referencing it. One of the things that jumped out to me is if this asbestos is airborne there is a 95 percent chance that whoever is exposed to it will be poisoned.

"And it's not a very pleasant way to experience life — or the remainder of one's life."