Posts Tagged ‘HSE’
£19,300 fine for working without an Asbestos Licence
Fadil Adil, of Coniston Road, Bromley, has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for overseeing a demolition project which involved asbestos removal without an asbestos removal licence.
The project involved the demolition of a building which had a restaurant on the ground floor and flats above; the project was being supervised by a Fadil Adil from South East London. The HSE have prosecuted the contractor for running a construction site which led to workers being exposed to asbestos-containing-material.
The demolition took place between the 21st to the 29th of June 2010, where asbestos insulating boards were present in the ground floor restaurant ceilings. The ceilings were broken up by three workmen using sledgehammers and hand-operated breakers meaning there is a strong possibility that the workmen were exposed to asbestos fibres.
An investigation by the HSE found that the defendant did not have a licence permitting him to work with asbestos nor was he trained in construction management.
HSE regulations state that an asbestos survey needs to be carried out on construction sites where asbestos might be present; this will ensure that guidance and training is provided to the workmen in order to make them aware of asbestos containing areas. Investigation found that there was no survey and that workers were not informed.
Ian Seabrook, an HSE Inspector said: Read More
Council in court over workers exposed to asbestos
Birmingham City Council and a Solihull refurbishment company have been sentenced for exposing three men to asbestos during work on a school.
Solihull Supplies Ltd, of Lodge Road, Knowle, was contracted by the council to refurbish the reception area at William Cowper Community Primary School, Newtown, Birmingham.
Solihull Supplies then sub-contracted another firm to remove ceiling tiles at the school without carrying out a proper risk assessment.
Birmingham Magistrates’ Court heard that on 24 July 2009 two workers from the firm, which cannot be named as legal proceedings are still ongoing, were tasked with stripping out tiles from seven rooms being refurbished.
However, a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the tiles contained brown asbestos and the work lasted several hours, exposing both workers and the school caretaker to asbestos. Also, rather than use a cleaner with a specialised filter, an ordinary vacuum cleaner was used which would have spread fibres into the air. Read More
Hunt for workers in asbestos scare
Health officials are hoping to trace maintenance workers who may have been exposed to asbestos at a west Wales hospital.
Hywel Dda Health Board said the safety alert centres on engineering areas at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth.
But it stressed that patients and visitors using the hospital between 2004 and 2009 are unaffected because asbestos did not enter public areas.
The potential problems, which pre-date the health board’s formation, are being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Read More
Firm’s £5,000 asbestos bill
A NORFOLK company and a contractor from Manchester have been fined after failing to manage asbestos removal work at a renovation site in Great Yarmouth.
Mohammed Zahid was employed in May 2009 by Azam Bros Ltd of Hunstanton to clear damage caused by a fire at two commercial units they owned in Regent Street, Great Yarmouth.
Complaints were received by Great Yarmouth Borough Council that a skip outside the premises had no cover to prevent dust contaminating surrounding work units or being exposed to the general public.
The council issued a prohibition notice to stop work and asbestos was later found to be present. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authority launched a joint investigation which resulted in prosecution.
HSE inspectors told Norwich Magistrates’ Court that Mr Zahid failed to order an asbestos survey, as required by law, before starting renovation work, was not trained in asbestos removal and did not possess the required licence.
Azam Bros Ltd admitted breaching Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and were fined £2,500 and ordered to pay costs of £2,500.
Mohammed Zahid, 33, from Wilbraham Road in Manchester, was fined a total of £1,000 after being found guilty of breaching regulations 5, 8(2), 10 and 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and ordered to pay costs of £500. Read More