The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned building and maintenance workers and their employers that they must take proper precautions when dealing with asbestos.
The warning follows the successful prosecution of Asahi Glass Fluropolymers UK Ltd, (AGFP) of Thornton Cleveleys, near Blackpool, for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act [1974].
An HSE investigation began after two workers were exposed to asbestos during the removal of ceiling tiles. AGFP managers suspected that the ceiling tiles might contain asbestos, but still allowed work to continue in the contaminated area, said the HSE.
An asbestos analyst subsequently confirmed the presence of brown and white asbestos in the ceiling tiles.
The ceiling contractor did not have an asbestos licence required to remove the tiles and their employees involved in the work were not trained in asbestos work.
The company was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,396.
HSE inspector Peter Gray said: “This case highlights the need for companies to take a precautionary approach when carrying out maintenance work on materials suspected of containing asbestos.
“In Britain, around half a million structures built or renovated between 1950 and 1980 still contain asbestos. Asbestos-related diseases are currently responsible for about 3,000 deaths a year in Great Britain.
“Asbestos can become particularly dangerous when disturbed. If maintenance workers are not aware, they may dislodge the deadly fibres and unwittingly put their own health and the health of others at risk.”
