A council and its contractor have been fined after renovation work at a supported housing project put workers at risk from asbestos poisoning.
Magistrates in Newton Abbott, Devon found Teignbridge district council and contractors Onyx had put workers lives at risk after contractors found asbestos during renovations at a sheltered accommodation block.

Onyx had been employed to carry out renovations at the council complex in Jubilee Close, Exminster.

But the contractor was not licensed to dispose of asbestos after the deadly material was found on site.

Health and Safety Executive inspectors were alerted to the potentially lethal work after they were contacted by a concerned member of the public.

The executive also revealed it had been contacted by a separate licensed contractor about the problems at Jubilee Close.

A HSE spokeswoman said: "When Onyx realised they were in trouble because they did not have the correct license to deal with decontamination they contacted a separate contractor to help them out." Any organisation carrying out decontimination work involving asbestos is required by law to contact the HSE.

Though no one was hurt an inspector from the executive concluded the renovations were putting workers at risk.

At a hearing magistrates imposed a £15,000 fine plus £879 costs on the council. Onyx was fined £11,800 with £935 costs.

A spokeswoman for the HSE said: "We are very pleased with this result and it sends a clear message to organisations about the importance of managing asbestos correctly.

"The HSE takes the issue of asbestos very seriously as there are currently around 3,000 asbestos related deaths per year in this country."

Source

Housing Today