HSE prosecutes firm over asbestos
exposure
Health & Safety update 10/06/2011
A Powys-based refurbishment company has been prosecuted
following the exposure of two of its workers to materials
containing asbestos.
John Todd Ltd, of Middletown, Powys, had been commissioned to
renovate a building at Mile Oak Industrial Estate in Oswestry, in
October last year.
However, when licensed asbestos removal workers arrived, they
discovered that company director John Todd and two self-employed
workers had already begun work on the site.
The workers had started to remove asbestos insulation boards and
wood and floor tiles containing broken asbestos fragments.
They had then placed them into a skip which had not been
properly protected to contain such materials.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered that the firm
had taken no precautions to prevent the spread of the harmful
asbestos fibres. HSE immediately stopped all work at the site
following the discovery.
John Todd Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at Shrewsbury Magistrates’ Court
and was fined £10,000 plus £10,000 in costs.
Nic Rigby, HSE inspector said, “John Todd Ltd showed an absolute
disregard for the health and safety of workers on the site by
allowing work with asbestos to take place fully aware it was
present.
“It is well known throughout industry that exposure to asbestos
fibres can cause premature death, yet this company chose to expose
its workers to this risk.
“The court recognised the severity of this appalling situation
today. Exposure to asbestos can kill and we will not hesitate to
take enforcement action against anyone found to have worked
unsafely with the material,” he added.