City workers have boarded up a dangerous, asbestos-laden former hospital building in Indianapolis. The old Winona Memorial Hospital was sealed off on Wednesday after concerns about public safety were raised. The building has been vacant since 2004, when the hospital went bankrupt. In 2008, the aging facility was declared a hazard to public health.

The property is owned by the city, but all efforts to secure the building against unauthorized entry have been unsuccessful. Despite signs that warn of the presence of asbestos, which can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other medical conditions, “No Trespassing” signs were nowhere to be seen. Signs warning of asbestos are required by law.

Asbestos fibers, once airborne, can float on air currents and could pose a health risk to neighbors. One reporter for a local news station was able to easily enter the building. Inside the abandoned structure, evidence of transients is everywhere, as the floor is covered with scatter liquor bottles, beer cans, and other debris.

When city officials were confronted with evidence collected by local reporters that the asbestos-laden building was easily accessible, it came as a surprise. "That’s not a good thing at all. Certainly it should be secured and boarded from keeping anyone from going into it right now," said Maury Plambeck of the Department of Metropolitan Development.

City workers have now sealed up the windows and doors, and the local police will be watching the property closely. "I’ve assigned an officer to check the building regularly to ensure that it isn’t open to someone who is just wandering in," said Captain Robert Holt.

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