Council and contractor fined for asbestos-related offences

Categories: Construction Health and Safety |


Council and contractor fined for asbestos-related offences City of Lincoln Council and its contractor have been given substantial fines after they were both found guilty of asbestos-related offences.

The fines relate to the faulty removal of asbestos insulation boards in a bathroom in June 2008, which left a family exposed to dangerous asbestos fibres for three days.

Lincoln Magistrates' Court heard that the contractor did not have an asbestos licence, while the employee undertaking the work had not received the necessary information or training.

As a result of these indiscretions, the council was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,000, while its contractor was fined £4,250 and ordered to pay costs of £6,000.

"The council failed to ensure the contractor was competent to carry out the work and had no procedures in place to be followed in the event of serious and imminent danger to its employees," said Martin Giles, a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector.

"It failed to protect its tenants and ensure that they were not exposed to risks to their health following the release of asbestos fibres."

In order to reduce the risk of health problems, the HSE implores contractors to use appropriate workwear.ADNFCR-1200-ID-19827750-ADNFCR

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