Building firm exposes staff to asbestos

25/08/2010

A building firm that exposed its staff to asbestos has been fined GBP 1,000 but could have to pay out even more in compensation if the workers develop health problems related to this.

Greswolde Construction Ltd of Station Road, Knowle, was carrying out a job at Rokeby Primary School in Rugby in July 2009.

The firm's bosses were in possession of a survey that detailed the location of the asbestos in the school, but they failed to warn their employees of this.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Paul Cooper said: "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."

As well as the GBP 1,000 fine, the company was also ordered to pay GBP 2,268 in costs.

Earlier this month, ship breaking company Acetech Construction Limited was fined GBP 3,400 for failing to carry out an adequate survey of a vessel it was working on.

Asbestos was later found to be present in the ship, which was built in the 1970s.

Posted by Alison Spriggs

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