Demolition Firm Fined for Asbestos Danger, Health and Safety
A Lake District building contained ceiling tiles with asbestos. The building was going to be demolished. This is why a demolition firm was hired. The firm put workers and residents at risk because they did not accurately study the risks in the building. ITB has been prosecuted for a failure to conduct workstation risk assessments and proper planning for safety and health.
The HSE investigated the firm and the demolition work when a photography factory was demolished. In 2011, the factory was destroyed and the firm was apparently aware of the asbestos inside; however, they did not have the proper licence to deal with the asbestos. The owners of the site gave a survey to IBT to let them know that asbestos was present in the ceiling tiles, but the company did not get a licence nor did the site owners obtain a proper contractor with a licence.
The health and safety regulations of 2006 that deal with control of asbestos require a contractor to have a licence or hire someone with the correct licence so as not to expose workers to asbestos fibres. The firm did neither, which is why they are now being fined over £14,000 including court costs. Asbestos is a silent and deadly killer as the cancer it creates in humans can take years to manifest itself. Even a little exposure can be harmful to some, at the very least causing respiratory problems depending on the level of exposure.
