A construction project client, as well as the appointed contractor have been fined after asbestos was disturbed during refurbishment and conversion work between June and August 2014.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court has heard how two employees of 24-Hour Maintenance Services Limited disturbed asbestos insulating board whilst undertaking work at a former commercial premises undergoing conversion into residential flats in Romford, London.
HSE investigators discovered that the client failed to warn of the presence of asbestos to the contractor despite knowledge of this fact.
According to law, A refurbishment / demolition asbestos survey is required for any building constructed before the year 2000 where the premises, or part of it, needs upgrading, refurbishment or demolition. In this case the survey was not conducted and two workers removed Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB) without any effective precautions and therefore received significant exposure to asbestos fibres.
- Firestone Estates Limited – of Watford, Hertfordshire pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 10(1)(b) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and were fined £10,000 and were ordered to pay £1020.64 in costs with a £1,000 victim surcharge.
- 24-Hour Maintenance Services Limited – of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and were fined £5,000 with £974.44 in costs and a victim surcharge of £500.
