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A school and its maintenance contractor faced combined penalties of almost £15,000 for placing people in danger of asbestos exposure. While installing a new heating system at the school, the contractor disturbed ceiling tiles that contained asbestos, potentially exposing several people to toxic fibres.
An HSE investigation found that the contractor and the school had failed to consult existing asbestos registers and management plans that would have identified the presence of asbestos. The contractor was fined £2,000 with £4,710.37 costs, and the school received a penalty of £3,000 with £4,785.37 costs.
Prevent asbestos exposure at your builders merchant
If you have contractors doing intrusive work at your branch – such as laying pipes or doing electrical work that involves chasing out walls – ensure you've shown them your asbestos survey and management plan. A competent team will be trained in asbestos awareness and understand how to prevent exposure risks.
If your branch was built before 1999, you should have an asbestos survey and management plan in place. Key services include management surveys and sampling, site plans and asbestos registers, and tailored management plans.
Last updated
September 28, 2022
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