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Warnings not communicated to unsuspecting workforce working with ACMs
Greswolde Construction Ltd of Solihull has been prosecuted after failing to warn employees working in a school that asbestos was present.
Three employees were carrying out the work when they disturbed an area of asbestos containing materials (ACMs).
The incident occurred despite the company being in possession of a Type 3 Asbestos Survey detailing the materials that were disturbed. Children were occupying adjacent classrooms yet the workmen were given the go ahead to start stripping out the area.
None of workers were informed of the presence of asbestos and had not received asbestos awareness training.
Children were in adjoining classrooms
HSE inspector Paul Cooper said:
“The dangers of asbestos are well known in the building industry so for the managers of Greswolde Construction not to inform their employees of its presence shows a complete disregard for their safety and wellbeing.
“What makes it worse is that this work was being carried out in a primary school where young children were in the next room.
“We can’t stress enough how important it is for anyone carrying out building work to obtain the proper asbestos surveys and then act upon them.”
The company pleaded guilty to a breaching the Control of Asbestos Regulation 2006 Regulations 10(1) and 11(1)(a). The firm was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £2,268 costs.