Asbestos expert fined after workers are exposed to asbestos fibres

Post By: Shona Innes

Workers’ lack of protective clothing leads to the exposure of potentially-deadly fibres.

Steven Kelly of Manchester-based firm Winsulate has been fined as a result of an inspection by the Health and Safety Executive.

Inspectors found that three workers onsite Trafford College in Stretford failed to wear suitable protective clothing or masks and instead wore their own clothes.

In addition to the lack of protective clothing, the workers wore lace-up boots instead of wellingtons, meaning asbestos fibres could stick to their laces or the inside of their shoes.
Not only are the workers posing a threat to themselves, their failure to comply correctly with asbestos removal procedures could be potentially fatal to their families.

Para-occupational and environmental exposure is a cause of many deaths in the UK.  It can involve activities such as living near industrial sites and buildings which either produce or contain asbestos, the washing of overalls and certain DIY tasks.  By using incorrect clothing and footwear, workers’ are also putting their families at risk of asbestos exposure.

Protective disposable overalls should be worn as opposed to cotton overalls, as cotton overalls can harbour dust and would need to be specially laundered.  The HSE also advise that suitable respiratory equipment such as a half mask respirator (to standard EN140) with P3 filter should be worn.

Frontline Safety offer a range of disposable, half and full face masks, including the Drager X-plore 3500 Construction Set.  The set consists of a half mask (in medium size) and one pair of unattached Pure P3 R filters which offer the highest level (99.95%) of protection against dust and other airborne particles.

The Drager X-plore 3500 mask can be worn under a helmet and is suitable for use with visors and face shields.  For further information and to purchase the Drager X-plore 3500 Construction Set, please visit our website here, or contact [email protected].

Procedures ignored by Steven Kelly, the supervisor on the project led to a fine of £790.  Steven was also ordered to pay costs of £250 after pleading guilty to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

As well as failing to take reasonable care of the workers under his supervision; the catalogue of errors Mr Kelly made included the failure to discard of used clothing properly, failing to provide sufficient water for sponging down boots and masks to prevent airborne particles and the failure to carry out daily checks on masks.

“Asbestos is responsible for thousands of deaths in the UK every year but it only becomes dangerous when it is broken up and fibres are released into the air,” said HSE Inspector Laura Moran.

“That’s why asbestos can only be removed by specialist contractors but, as the site supervisor, Steven Kelly put workers at risk by not following the correct safety procedures.”

Written by Dawn Mitchell