Nuneaton Council fined £5k for risking asbestos poisoning

A local authority has been fined £5,000 after it put one of its employees at risk of contracting an asbestos-related illness.

An investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Nuneaton and Bedworth Council - which has Conservative Marcus Jones as its MP - had instructed a member of its staff to fix a water leak in a housing development without warning him that the potentially lethal substance was present at the site.

During a case at Nuneaton Magistrates' Court, it was revealed that the employee went to complete the job as instructed in August 2009, despite the fact that the council was in possession of a survey which detailed the fact that asbestos was there.

The unnamed worker consequently went about his business in the presence of asbestos for around 20 minutes without any protective equipment.

The council pleaded guilty to breaching the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and was ordered to pay costs of £2,140 on top of its penalty.

Posted by Craig Williams
 

30/09/2010 16:29