Mum's asbestos warning
MOTHER-OF-ONE Michelle Warren wants other families to think twice before paying a tradesman upfront.
"We don't want others to be duped the way I was," Michelle said.
Initially hesitant about paying for services upfront, Michelle said she was torn between getting the only asbestos removalist in Gladstone, who would take upfront payment, and another company in Rockhampton.
"The only problem was the company in Rockhampton was asking for $1000 more to do the job. I thought it would be better to get it out of the way and just pay the business in Gladstone," she said.
After subcontractors left the job incomplete, Michelle took it upon herself to 2 remove the remaining fragments of asbestos from the shed1 .
"(WHSQ) told me how to decontaminate and how to make the area safe. But they haven't double-checked it or verified if I have done a good job," Michelle said.
Michelle said she was worried about the health of her 18-month-old daughter Sally, who had been living in the contaminated environment.
The Glen Eden resident is now concerned about the welfare of other vulnerable families, who may be find themselves in a similar situation to her.
"There is a real shortage of tradespeople in Gladstone due to the building boom and some unscrupulous tradespeople are taking advantage of this and asking for upfront payment," she said.
"Despite our desperation to get the work done, I should have refused to pay him in full upfront."
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