Last month it was revealed by the HSE that two Northamptonshire firms have been fined after a routine safety inspection revealed serious asbestos-related failings.
“Northampton Magistrates’ Court heard today (22 Dec) that Lifting Systems Ltd had contracted Durasteel Services Ltd to refurbish an asbestos cement roof at its Crown Works in Far Cotton.
When inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited the site on 22 October 2013 to check the work they found asbestos insulation board had been removed and stored on the premises, and that debris had been placed in waste skips around the site.
A Prohibition Notice was served to immediately stop any further work.
A subsequent investigation found that although Lifting Systems Ltd was the client, the company had undertaken a lot of the refurbishment work, including the removal of the majority of old asbestos cement roofing panels. It did not have an up to date asbestos register and did not carry out a demolition and refurbishment survey, which would have highlighted areas of asbestos to be considered during the refurbishment.
Durasteel Services Ltd failed to carry out an assessment to identify the potential for asbestos to be disturbed and put effective control measures in place.
The court was told that neither company had a licence to remove asbestos.
Lifting Systems Ltd, of Crown Works, Main Road, Far Cotton, Northampton, was fined a total of £14,000 and ordered to pay £523 in costs after pleading guilty to three breaches of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
Durasteel Services Ltd, of Kingsfield Way, Kingsfield Heath Industrial Estate, Northampton, was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £523 after admitting one breach of the same regulations.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Sam Russell said:
“This case highlights the importance of businesses having strong policies to enable identification of asbestos as part of their normal working practices. The refurbishment work started three months before HSE visited the site, so the risks from asbestos had not been controlled for some time.
“Lifting Systems Ltd made little effort to survey or identify asbestos in the premises before starting work, so failed to identify the presence of asbestos insulation board lining panels underneath the asbestos roofing sheets. The panels were broken up and placed in skips, putting construction workers and other employees at risk of exposure to carcinogenic asbestos fibres. An asbestos survey had been carried out by the previous owners of the premises and highlighted the asbestos which was removed. However, the premises had been derelict for a period of time and the infrastructure had been damaged and vandalised meaning the old survey was not current and fit for purpose and a new one was required.
“Durasteel Services Ltd was complicit in the removal of asbestos insulation board during the refurbishment. The company should have conducted an assessment to see if any work it undertook would have the potential to disturb asbestos materials and taken appropriate action to introduce control measures.”
Don’t get caught out and end up with a fine. Call today for free asbestos advice in Northamptonshire.
HSE Latest news
- Keep your children safe on your farms 11/05/2022The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland is reminding the farming community of child safety on farms, at this year’s Balmoral Show.Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
- Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2020-2021 27/04/2022The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has published its Annual Report and Accounts for the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. The twenty-second Annual Report records a significant decrease in the number of major and recordable injuries in the workplace.Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
- HSENI Safety Alert: Ear loop respirators/masks do not provide protection as tight fitting RPE 26/04/2022HSENI Safety alertHealth and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
- Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland announces inspection programme of engineering businesses 14/04/2022The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has announced an inspection and enforcement initiative within engineering companies, which is set to begin in May. The inspections will focus on compliance with industry standards specifically in relation to the control of welding fume.Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
- Gas Safety (Management) Regulations (NI) 1997 – Class Exemption 24/03/2022The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) have issued a Class Exemption under the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 (GSMR). This Class Exemption allows gas network operators in Northern Ireland (NI) to inject biomethane gas into the gas network with an Oxygen content of up to 1% molar and up to […]Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
- HSENI approves two revised ACOPS (L101 and L113) for use in Northern Ireland 14/03/2022Safe Work in Confined Spaces (Third edition): Approved Code of Practice and Guidance and the Safe Use of Lifting Equipment (Second edition): Approved Code of Practice and Guidance.Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
- HSE Safety Alert - Industrial Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems 11/03/2022HSE (GB) has recently issued a safety notice relating to dangerous occurrences that resulted from a failure of industrial UPS systems.Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
- New Health and Safety Regulations 11/03/2022THE EMPLOYER'S LIABILITY (COMPULSORY INSURANCE) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2022Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
- HSENI Safety Alert - Swimming pool supervision 10/03/2022HSENI are aware of a number of incidents which have resulted in the need for pool users to be rescued by the on duty lifeguard.Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
- Hand Sanitiser Questionnaire: 1-14 March 2022 01/03/2022HSE has constructed a short Survey Monkey questionnaire to gather information on whether Article 55(1) derogation permits are still required. That is, whether there is now sufficient availability of hand sanitisers and the active substances they contain, such that temporary BPR derogations are no longer required.Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland