Ship breaking company at risk of compensation claims?

20/08/2010

A North Lincolnshire ship breaking company put its workers and others in danger of exposure to asbestos and itself at risk of injury compensation claims.

Acetech Construction Limited purchased a Polish former fishing vessel in 2007 to dismantle and sell on as scrap.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conducted an investigation and found that Acetech had failed to carry out an adequate survey that would have found asbestos was present in the ship, which was built in the 1970s.

Scunthorpe Magistrates Court issued Acetech, of New Green Farm, Marsh Lane, Barrow Haven, a fine of GBP 3,400 and ordered it to pay GBP 5,000 costs.

HSE inspector Kirsty Welsh said: "Asbestos is responsible for around 4,000 deaths each year so it's vitally important that workers are protected."

Earlier this month, Ron Couch Building Contractors Ltd was fined GBP 2,500 and ordered to pay GBP 1,250 in costs after its employees were told to carry out unlicensed asbestos removal.

Posted by Wayne Weir

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