Ministry of Defence staff were allowed to work in a boiler room
on a base despite a construction company knowing that it was
contaminated with asbestos.
Interserve (Defence) Ltd ignored a survey which pointed out that
the entire room on the MoD base in Bicester was covered in the
cancer-causing mineral.
The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted the London-based firm
after it investigated the case. Oxford Crown Court handed
Interserve a £33,000 fine and told it to pay £17,936 in prosecution
costs.
An asbestos survey undertaken in the boiler room in early 2005
showed that the whole room was contaminated with asbestos and
recommended restricted access to the area until the harmful
material was removed.
Interserve ignored the survey and exposed staff to the dangerous
fibres, putting them at risk of developing
asbestos diseases for more than a year. At an earlier hearing
in front of magistrates in Banbury it admitted breaking regulations
4(8)(c), 6(1)(a) and 10(1)(a) of the Control of Asbestos
Regulations 2002.
The offences occurred between May 23, 2005 and September 30
2006.
Oxfordshire HSE inspector Matthew Lee said: "Around 4,000 people
die each year from past exposure to asbestos and the material may
be present in any building built before the year 2000."