Contractor fined after asbestos exposure
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has taken a Powys-based refurbishment company to court over an incident where workers were exposed to asbestos. When the licensed asbestos removal contractors arrived on site on 18 October 2010, they found two self-employed workers and the company director of the refurbishment company had already started to remove the asbestos insulation board themselves and had taken no precautions to prevent the release and spread of the dangerous fibres.
HSE attended the site and immediately stopped all work due to the risk to those working there.
The court ruled that the contractor had breached Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £10,000 costs.
Published Jun 24, 2011
