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Italian Opera House Sings Asbestos Blues

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Milan Italy's storied opera house La Scala has closed the uppermost seating gallery while workers remove recently discovered asbestos. About 270 seats will be sealed off during the remediation project that is expected to be completed in October.

A La Scala spokesman said that asbestos was found in a “very limited” section of the lighting area near the cornice of the vaulted ceiling of the 230-year-old theater and the area was immediately sealed until removal could be carried out during the summer break, the Associated Press reported.

The city of Milan and the theater began work in August to remove the asbestos, working at night so rehearsals and performances can go ahead as scheduled.

La Scala was ordered earlier this decade by courts to pay damages in two cases involving stagehands who contracted asbestos-triggered diseases while employed at the theater. The workers had come in contact with asbestos while handling fire retardant material protecting stage curtains.

The asbestos was used as insulation and as a fire retardant decades ago before Italian law banned the use of asbestos nationwide.

Fat Lady Sings

Labels: International News

posted by Wade Rawlins at 2:35 PM
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