A building contractor whose workers disturbed some asbestos
while carrying out work at a primary school has been fined £1,000
and ordered to pay £2,268 costs.
Solihull-based Greswolde Construction was prosecuted by the
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) over the incident, which occurred
last year while children were in a lesson next door.
Bosses at the company failed to warn its workers that
asbestos was present at Rokeby Primary School in Rugby, even
though a survey had been carried out on its whereabouts. It also
failed to provide any asbestos awareness training or protection to
its workers.
At Stratford-upon-Avon Magistrates' Court, the company pleaded
guilty to a breach of regulation 10(1) and one of 11(1)(a) of the
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.
Asbestos was disturbed by three workers who were ordered to
strip out an area despite the company having a Type 3 Asbestos
Survey detailing the presence of the material at that location and
the fact that children were in adjacent classrooms.
"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," said HSE inspector Paul Cooper.