A North Lincolnshire ship breaking company has been fined £3,400
for putting its employers at risk of exposure to
asbestos diseases, it has been revealed.
Scunthorpe magistrates heard that Acetech Construction bought
the Patricia III vessel, a former Polish fishing boat, in 2007, to
dismantle and sell on as scrap metal.
The ship, which was built in the 1970s, had been lying unused in
Grimsby Dock for three years before the marine reclamation company
purchased it.
Work was carried out on the vessel between December 2007 and
February 2008, in which the boat was completely stripped down.
An investigation carried out by the Health and Safety Executive found that
Acetech had not carried out an adequate survey of the Patricia III
before work started, and as a result, many employees had been
potentially exposed to asbestos containing materials.
Acetech admitted that it had breached regulations surrounding
the control of asbestos.
As well as the fine, it was ordered to pay costs of £5,000.