A Kent-Based Company Fined £30,000 for its dangerously negligent handling of asbestos removal, an incident that put children’s health at serious risk. The Asbestos Removal Company based in East Malling, was found guilty of multiple safety breaches by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The most alarming violation occurred during the renovation of a school gymnasium and sports hall in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, between March 30 and April 7, 2021.
The company removed asbestos cement sheets from the school’s fascia without implementing a safe system of work. This oversight was so severe that the school was forced to bring in a licensed asbestos contractor to conduct a remedial environmental clean-up to rectify the situation.
In addition to this, the company also illegally removed loose fill asbestos insulation – considered one of the most hazardous forms of asbestos – without the required license. This incident took place during the renovation of a shop in Redhill, Surrey, in April 2021.
Following these breaches, The Asbestos Removal Company pleaded guilty to violations of Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, as well as Regulation 8 of The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. The Southwark Crown Court subsequently imposed a £30,000 fine on the company and ordered them to pay additional costs totaling £7,260.85.
A company director also faced repercussions, pleading guilty to all charges. He was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay the same amount in costs – £7,260.85.
HSE inspector Stephanie Hickford-Smith expressed her dismay after the hearing, stating, “It’s a sad irony that a company trading as an Asbestos Removal company could make such a shambles of safely removing such a dangerous substance.
This company removed loose fill asbestos insulation, probably the most dangerous asbestos-containing material, from the site in Redhill without having a licence to do so.
It also put children and others, including its own workers and their families, at risk by failing to remove asbestos cement sheets from the school in Stanford-le-Hope under controlled conditions.”
This case underscores the critical importance of adhering to strict safety protocols when dealing with asbestos. The mishandling of such a hazardous material not only endangers workers but also poses a significant threat to public health, as this incident tragically demonstrates.
Companies involved in Asbestos Removal must prioritize safety and compliance to protect both their employees and the broader community.
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