Asbestos School Refurbishment Failings Lead to £112,000 Fine
Two construction companies have been fined £112,000 after asbestos exposure errors.
Subcontractors were removing suspended ceiling tiles at Oakwood Junior School in Derby when they were exposed to asbestos fibres. The school was being refurbished during the holiday period.
Health & Safety Executive Investigation
A Health & Safety Executive investigation found that the main contractor made errors by failing to plan or warn of potential exposure to asbestos.
The subcontractor was found to have failed at managing potential asbestos exposure risks by conducting the work without thorough investigation.
The main contractor provided only a generic risk assessment and did not identify the asbestos risk. The subcontractor didn’t carry out their own investigations before commencing work on the school site.
Asbestos Exposure Could Have Been Avoided
A Health & Safety Executive Inspector said that this asbestos exposure could have been avoided. The two companies should have put in place a robust plan to prepare for and monitor the ceiling removal, especially due to it containing asbestos.
The inspector reiterated that the HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fail in their Health & Safety duties. Read the full story here.
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