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Dust and Air Monitoring

Asbestos dust monitoring failures see surveyors charged

Two asbestos surveyors have been charged after their dust monitoring work fell way below an acceptable standard.

Two asbestos surveyors have been punished for failing to provide adequate dust monitoring services and endangering the lives of a number of builders.

Shaun Hodgson, 32, and David Harold, 49, were each given 40 hours community service and told to pay £1,500 towards the prosecution costs after they admitted to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at Trafford Magistrates' Court.

The charges relate to work done at the former Sale Hotel on Marsland Road in Sale, where the men failed to spot asbestos in 32 different locations.

As a result, workers were exposed to the potentially deadly fibres and it was not until an employee of the building contractor pointed out the potential danger that a second independent survey found the area to be contaminated.

Dust monitoring can be vitally important in the building industry as asbestos can cause lung cancer and other breathing complications later in life for those who are exposed.

Dust and air monitoring equipment is available to avoid such dangers.  Products from both Casella and RAE Systems can be found on the Frontline Safety website.

Approximately 4,000 people die each year in the UK alone as a direct result of exposure to asbestos dust, with symptoms often taking decades to manifest themselves.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Matt Greenly explained that Mr Harold and Mr Hodgson should have been more professional as such consultants are relied on heavily to keep construction workers safe.

"Construction companies trust their expert opinions to help prevent workers from being exposed to asbestos fibres. It's therefore essential that they do not take their minds off the job when carrying out asbestos surveys," he explained.

"Sadly Mr Harold and Mr Hodgson's work fell way below acceptable standards, despite them being well trained and seemingly experienced asbestos surveyors."

Meanwhile, Daventry chemical manufacturing firm Endeavour Speciality Chemicals has been fined for exposing its employees to a range of hazardous chemicals, the HSE reported.

Posted by Shona Innes 

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