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Contractor prosecuted over asbestos incident at sheltered housing home
Abbott and Mason Building and Joinery Contractors Ltd has been fined £20,000 after the building firm contaminated an elderly resident’s possessions with asbestos during bathroom renovation at the sheltered housing home of a 96-year-old resident on 4 February 2010.
The company was removing asbestos insulation board (AIB) surrounding pipework behind the bath. Many possessions belonging to the resident, including clothing and furniture, were contaminated with asbestos fibres and had to be destroyed.
The warden at the complex spotted the work, stopped the activity immediately and took the resident to a safe place. After staying with her family, Mrs Jenkins was relocated to another flat.
The defendant knew it was dealing with asbestos-containing material and both partners had received asbestos awareness training. Despite this training the company failed to manage the risk appropriately thereby exposing employees and members of the public to asbestos fibres.
‘Wilful disregard’ for safety of workforce and the public
Abbott and Mason Building and Joinery Contractors Ltd, of Carter Lane, Mansfield, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 7, 8, 11(1), 16 and 24(1) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and was fined a total of £20,000. The company was also ordered to pay full costs of £5,741.
Post incident disposal
After the hearing, HSE inspector Frances Bailey said:
“This company showed a wilful disregard for the health and safety of its employees and the public. Abbott and Mason knew the panels contained asbestos and should have dealt with it safely.
Their actions caused a great deal of worry and stress for Mrs Jenkins, who has since passed away.
The distress caused to her and the risks to the health of the public and the company’s employees could have been easily avoided had the company taken sensible steps to ensure the right procedures were followed and the spread of potentially dangerous material was prevented.”