A company's failure to update an asbestos survey left five
workers exposed to the potentially deadly and cancer-causing
mineral.
During refurbishing work of the White Horse pub in Harrowgate
Hill, Darlington, Mitchells & Butlers Retail had carried out a
survey of the work site. But when the work plan was changed, the
survey was not updated to reflect this.
The area left un-surveyed was a kitchen in the pub. Workers
began drilling into tiles in the ceiling containing the mineral,
which can lead to many
asbestos diseases. They were left covered in the mineral's dust
and debris.
Mitchells & Butlers was taken to Bishop Auckland
Magistrates' Court, where it admitted breaking the law.
The firm pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health
and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and regulation 5 of the Control of
Asbestos Regulations 2006. It was fined £14,001 and ordered to pay
costs of £11,781.45.
HSE inspector Victoria Wise said: "Construction and maintenance
workers are among those most at risk from asbestos-related diseases
due to the nature of their work. Asbestos is still widely present
in buildings constructed prior to 2000, so workers can often
inadvertently disturb materials containing asbestos if the correct
survey has not been carried out to check for its presence and
appropriate control measures put in place."