Cheltenham firm hit with asbestos failings fine

Casella Apex Dust Monitor

A Cheltenham demolitions company may be wishing it had made use of air quality monitoring equipment and paid attention to its asbestos survey after being hit with a fine for exposing its workers to dangerous conditions.

The importance of investing in the correct air quality management equipment has been underlined by a fine handed out to a Cheltenham demolition firm.

DA Environmental Services was prosecuted after its workers were exposed to potentially deadly asbestos fibres as they illegally removed waste from a site in Gloucester.

Cheltenham Magistrates Court found the company guilty of three breaches of asbestos removal regulations, after the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that a building containing asbestos insulating boards was demolished.

The boards were not removed prior to the demolition, despite an asbestos survey having been carried out.

Regulations state that such materials have to be disposed of in a controlled manner before a building is torn down, but DA Environmental Services neglected its responsibilities and proceeded without the correct precautions being taken.

According to the HSE, workers were exposed to "potentially significant quantities of asbestos fibres" over a six-week period from August 2011 to September 2011.

Having pleaded guilty to breaching Sections eight, 11 and 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, the firm was handed a fine of £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,452.

HSE inspector Andrew Kingscott explained that companies have to be very careful when dealing with properties containing asbestos.  Frontline Safety offer a range of dust and air monitoring equipment, which can be found on the website.

"Where material such as asbestos insulating board is identified, it should only be removed by a contractor who holds the necessary licence, in a safe manner and with the necessary control measures," he said.

"By undertaking the work themselves, [DA Environmental Services] unnecessarily exposed their own workers to the risks associated with significant levels of airborne asbestos fibres and failed to adequately contain their spread."

The expert added that construction in industry workers are at high risk of being exposed to asbestos fibres and there are too many people suffering from the affects later in life, with more than 3,000 people per year dying from asbestos-related illnesses in the UK.

According to the Bolton News, one recent example of an asbestos-related fatality can be seen in the death of a grandfather, who is believed to have died from pneumonia caused by mesothelioma - a cancer of the lungs directly linked to asbestos exposure.

Posted by Shona Innes