The Block 2022: Tree Change was forced to delay production for the umpteenth time after Tom Calleja discovered asbestos in his and Sarah-Jane Wilson’s heritage home during demolition.
The hazardous substance was discovered while the pair began renovating their guest bedroom during the August 15 episode.
Once The Block‘s on-site team had confirmed the white fibres on the inside of the walls was indeed asbestos, they were forced to stop work on Tom and Sarah-Jane‘s home.
“As soon as I saw it, I thought, here we go, more delays, more delays,” the plumber recalled.
“They shut our house down, and rightfully so asbestos is very dangerous and can cause all kinds of health issues.”
After a bizarre and uncomfortable discussion about Tom’s bathroom habits, foreman Keith Schleiger and Dan Reilly gave the all-clear for the crew to continue work after a six-hour delay.
Why Didn’t The Block 2022’s Production Team Find the Asbestos Before They Started Construction?
Asbestos is commonly found in older buildings as it was previously used as an insulator before it was discovered to be toxic.
If inhaled, it can increase the risk of severe illnesses including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer, according to the US-based site Asbestos.com.
Being a common concern, it seemed strange that pre-production inspections wouldn’t have found the hazardous material.
Tom and Sarah-Jane’s planned guest bedroom was previously a kitchen with a fireplace, with the asbestos hidden inside the concrete.
“In this location… it’s very hard to locate. That’s why we didn’t find it. Tom’s done the right thing in alerting us,” foreman Dan explained.
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