Posts Tagged ‘HSE’
Fines for companies that ignored asbestos hazard
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 of its commercial units 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 the council launched a joint investigation that 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. Read More
M&S and its contractors found guilty of asbestos breaches
Retail giant Marks and Spencer and two of its contractors were found guilty today of failing to protect customers, staff and workers from the possibility of being exposed to asbestos during major refurbishment works at two of its stores.
The clothing and food store was subject to a three-month trial at Winchester Crown Court on charges of failing to ensure all steps were taken to prevent the deadly fibres from being unleashed in the shops.
The management is claimed to have been more concerned about the works being “unsightly” and “interfering with the shopping experience” of customers, the court heard.
The prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) related to works carried out at the company’s stores in Reading, Berkshire, and Bournemouth, Dorset.
The trial heard that construction workers at the two stores removed asbestos-containing materials that were present in the ceiling tiles and elsewhere.
But M&S did not allocate sufficient time and space for the removal of the asbestos-containing materials at the Reading store, the court was told.
The contractors had to work overnight in enclosures on the shop floor, with the aim of completing small areas of asbestos removal before the shop opened to the public each day, the court heard.
The HSE alleged that M&S failed to ensure that work at Reading complied with the appropriate minimum standards set out in legislation and approved codes of practice.
After nearly four days of deliberations, the jury found M&S guilty of two charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 of failing to ensure the health and safety of its staff and others at the Reading store.
Co-defendants Willmott Dixon Construction Limited, of Hertfordshire, was found guilty of contravening sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at the Bournemouth store.
And Manchester-based company PA Realisations Ltd (formerly Pectel Ltd), was found guilty of contravening regulation 15 of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 at the Reading store. Read More
South Yorkshire firm fined for exposing workers to asbestos
A Rotherham firm continued exposing workers to dangerous asbestos-containing materials despite advice from the local council.
Only when the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a Prohibition Notice banning entry to two warehouses run by local storage firm, Rotherham Bonding Company Ltd, were employees removed from danger.
Rotherham Magistrates’ Court heard the Council bought the warehouses in Oldgate Lane from Fosters of Thrybergh Ltd in July 2009 and arranged for a professional asbestos survey before demolishing them. In the meantime Rotherham Bonding Company, which ran the warehouses, was using staff from its sister company, Fosters of Thrybergh, to empty them of their stock of wine and spirits.
The court heard Rotherham Council’s surveyor spotted large amounts of damaged asbestos-containing materials on the floors where forklift trucks were operating. He advised employees and the council about his findings. The council notified both Rotherham Bonding Company and Fosters of Thrybergh about the presence of asbestos but nothing was done and work was allowed to continue.
HSE was informed in September and visited the site. It immediately issued the Prohibition Notice preventing entry into the buildings and later took samples which showed white and brown asbestos were present. As a result a full survey was carried out and 18 of 20 samples were found to contain significant concentrations of asbestos. Read More
Tuxford man’s asbestos prosecution
A CONTRACTOR has been prosecuted for exposing workers to asbestos.
Wayne Priestley, 47, of Lincoln Road, Tuxford had been employed to remove asbestos-containing materials from the former Allens Printers building in Webster Street, Derby ahead of its demolition.
Quarnmill Construction Ltd, the principal contractor on the site, provided a survey of the building to Priestley detailing the location of the asbestos. The survey stated that in several places a licensed contractor was required to remove some of the material. Quarnmill Construction has already been prosecuted for their health and safety failings in this case.
Priestley assured Quarnmill the asbestos removal was within his capability, yet he had no licence to carry out this type of work.