Firm fined for unlicensed asbestos removal

A Pontypool building contractors firm has been fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £1,250 in costs after it pled guilty to removing asbestos without a license.

Ron Couch Building Contractors from Panteg Station, Station Road, Griffithstown committed the offence when its workers removed a cupboard door clad with asbestos insulation board (AIB) during the replacement of a boiler at a private property.

They were warned about the presence of AIB by a supervisor from a licensed contractor who was working nearby.

However, a senior manager instructed them to seal the cupboard walls with plasterboard.

Steve Richardson, Health and Safety inspector, said the company knew what its legal duties were with regards to working with asbestos.

"AIB poses less of a risk if not damaged, but this work exposed the edges of the board increasing the risk of releasing asbestos fibres which could be inhaled by the workers and anyone else using the premises," he explained.

Mr Richardson noted the work should have been halted as soon as contractors were told of the presence of AIB.

Asbestos is one of the greatest causes of work-related disease in the UK and the HSE has strict rules about working in the presence of the substance.

It advises workers to avoid using power tools and other methods that create a lot of dust and to use wet rags or a Type H vacuum cleaner to sweep up dust and debris.

Posted by Craig Williams
 

02/08/2010 16:59