Hundreds of soldiers were exposed to asbestos in urban warfare training at a former Manawatu freezing works because the army was not told about the problem, a court of inquiry has found.
Soldiers had used the old Longburn freezing works, south of Palmerston North, in exercises three or four times a year for about 10 years.
The asbestos danger was revealed when the building was damaged by a fire in March 2007, and fragments of the potentially cancer-causing material littered the area.
Manawatu District Council issued a dangerous building notice and ordered the building's owner, Ken Thurston, to demolish it.
The army was not alerted to the problem until July 2008, when it was reported Mr Thurston had not complied with the council's demolition order.
An army investigation concluded Mr Thurston did not ensure the army knew about an asbestos risk and 10 exercises were held at the site since the fire, The Manawatu Standard reported today.
There was no definite figure but "several hundred" soldiers were placed on a register for exposure or potential exposure to asbestos.
The soldiers were at Longburn for short periods only.
Medical specialists said the soldiers' exposure and frequency was relatively minimal but it wasn't possible to test for traces of asbestos.
The Longburn site was used for urban warfare training, said Linton's 2 Landforce Group Commander Colonel Tim Keating.
"We normally rely on landowners to be completely open with us. No comment was made in any land clearance procedures about the presence of asbestos."
That was despite the Department of Labour briefing Mr Thurston on asbestos dangers and the council declaring the building dangerous.
Mr Thurston declined to participate in the inquiry, Col Keating said.
Lawyers for the New Zealand Defence Force would determine if there should be any follow-up.
The Department of Labour couldn't prosecute Mr Thurston because it was outside the six months statute of limitations.
If the army had checked with council, it would have been told the Longburn building was dangerous because of structural damage and asbestos.
In future it would contact territorial authorities to ensure all hazards had been covered, rather than just relying on landowners' information, Col Keating said.
Mr Thurston could not be reached for comment.
