Leisure & Hospitality Sector
Devon refurbishment workers 'needlessly exposed' to
asbestos
Health & Safety update 13/06/2012
Inadequate asbestos removal procedures during the renovation of
a Devon pub have led to fines for the brewery, the building firm
carrying out the work and the director of the building firm.
Exeter Magistrates Court heard that the workers carrying out the
renovations at the Three Crowns pub in Chagford, Dartmoor, were
needlessly exposed to the deadly asbestos dust in the building.
They discovered the material in insulation boards that were
uncovered when they were taking down an internal wall.
The men were working for Cowley's Building and Maintenance Ltd,
which was carrying out the work for St Austell Breweries. The court
heard that a suitable asbestos survey had not been carried out and
should have been the duty of the brewery, Cowley’s director,
Christopher Reed, was in charge of the site and ordered that a
sample of the board be sent for testing – but also asked that
workers to pick up the debris from the boards.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector, Barry Trudigan,
said that there had been multiple failures on the site.
“As the owners of the site, St Austell Brewery should have
provided a full and thorough assessment of the possible presence of
asbestos at the Three Crowns,” he said. “Once the asbestos boards
were found, the site manager should have stopped the demolition
work and reduced the risk of exposure by providing the workmen with
a safe system of remedial measures.”
St Austell Breweries, Cowley's Building and Maintenance and Mr
Reed all pleaded guilt to charges under the Control of Asbestos
Regulations 2006, and were fined £5,000, £12,500 and £2,500
respectively.
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