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.