Copper theft is costing Perth building owners thousands as thieves target vacant properties for scrap metal. Despite new laws, the problem persists due to lack of police resources and the high value of copper.
A pilot project in South Africa is painting roofs with reflective paint to combat extreme summer heat. Homes with painted roofs are 3-4C cooler, leading to better sleep and improved health outcomes for residents, particularly vulnerable groups.
An investigation found five children's toys sold in Britain contain asbestos, a banned substance linked to cancer. Similar items were previously recalled in the Netherlands, highlighting regulatory gaps post-Brexit. Retailers and officials are responding to the findings.
The inquiry heard the CFMEU was making social media posts attacking the credibility of WHSQ employees.
Two Crayola craft boxes for children have been recalled over concerns the sand inside may be contaminated with asbestos. The Touchy Feely Craft Box (sold as Sensory Craft Box) and Discovery Craft Box, made in China and sold by Argos, Asda, Sainsbury's and The Works between March 2025 and April 2026, pose a health risk. Owners should stop use immediately and follow safety disposal guidance.
A survey by the National Association of Head Teachers finds 50% of headteachers say parts of their schools are out of use or unfit for purpose due to leaks, damp, mould, asbestos and ageing infrastructure. Almost three-quarters (73%) report toilet blocks that are closed or not fit for purpose, while 41% say SEND facilities are unsuitable. The National Audit Office estimates £14bn is needed to restore school buildings in England to satisfactory condition, with 96% of respondents saying they received insufficient capital funding. The government has committed to almost £3bn per year over the next decade through a new 10-year estates strategy.
More than 30 children's toys have been recalled in the UK after the Guardian revealed that play sand sold by Hobbycraft was contaminated with asbestos. Products including craft kits and rubber toys from retailers including Tesco, Primark, Matalan and M&S were found to contain the substance, which can cause cancer if inhaled. The affected products contain sand from mines in China where asbestos fibres can occur naturally. The consumer group Which? described the recalls as pointing to a serious failure in safety checks.
The family of a former Kirklees Council joiner who died from mesothelioma cancer caused by asbestos exposure has received over £1m in compensation. Rick, a dad-of-four from Heckmondwike, was exposed to asbestos while working in schools across Kirklees. Kirklees Council accepted a breach of duty. His widow Rachel, 51, has raised over £20,000 for charities and wants to warn others about asbestos dangers in public buildings.
Rick Oakes, from York, died from an asbestos-related cancer linked to his work for Kirklees Council.
Unwanted vessels left to decay release fibreglass shards into the water, harming marine life. Steve Green – with his trusty van Cecil – is determined to clean things upSteve Green, a boat engineer from Cornwall, was pulled over by the police just before Christmas. He was driving a decrepit-looking VW campervan and towing an even more dilapidated yacht up to Truro. He hadn’t broken any laws, but he admits that Cecil the campervan, which runs on donated chip oil from local pubs and has a crane and a winch on the front, “wasn’t quite what VW intended”.Green (and Cecil) are on a mission to rid the beautiful hidden creeks of Cornwall’s Helford and Fal rivers of 166 abandoned fibreglass yachts, which are leaking plastic and toxins into the predominantly marine waters. Marine biologists have likened the thousands of shards of fibreglass they have found embedded in the flesh of sea-creatures in areas with wrecks such as these to asbestos, a substance known to have a noxious effect on humans.Green uses a detachable crane system at the front of his van to move around bags of plastic after they have been weighed. Cecil is upholstered in recycled denim Continue reading...
