Exposure of workers to asbestos
A Rotherham firm continued exposing workers to dangerous asbestos-containing materials despite advice from the local council.
Only when the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a Prohibition Notice banning entry to two warehouses run by local storage firm, the company, were employees removed from danger.
In the meantime the Company, which ran the warehouses, was using staff from its sister company, to empty them of their stock of wine and spirits.
The court heard the company surveyor spotted large amounts of damaged asbestos-containing materials on the floors where forklift trucks were operating. He advised employees and the council about his findings. The council notified both Companies about the presence of asbestos but nothing was done and work was allowed to continue.
HSE was informed and It immediately issued the Prohibition Notice preventing entry into the buildings and later took samples which showed white and brown asbestos were present. As a result a full survey was carried out and 18 of 20 samples were found to contain significant concentrations of asbestos.
The company pleaded guilty to two charges under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and was fined £5,500 with £6,250 towards costs.
After the hearing, Inspector Mark Welsh said:
"This is a particularly shocking incident as not only did this firm not undertake an asbestos survey, they completely ignored the advice given by the council and a specialist surveyor.”
Updated on 9/13/2011