%201.svg)
%201.svg)
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
Opus Safety
Health & safety insights
Guidance, updates and practical advice for your sector.
Why Was the Health and Safety at Work Act Introduced?
Why was the Health and Safety at Work Act introduced? The disasters, the Robens Report and the duties the HSWA still places on UK employers today.
What Law Regulates Workplace Health and Safety? DSEAR Explained
What law regulates workplace health and safety? A clear guide to the HSWA, DSEAR and whether your business needs a DSEAR risk assessment.
Hot weather health and safety: six essential questions
Six essential questions to keep your team safe in hot weather – heat stress, hydration, PPE, first aid and driving – with practical steps for summer working.
HSE prosecutions: Workplace fatalities and seven-figure fines
Four recent HSE prosecutions – from a £1m refinery gas leak to fatal and life-changing injuries – and the simple controls that would have prevented them.
Maintain momentum with a mid-year health and safety check
Use the mid-year point to take stock of your health and safety: risk assessments, training, PPM and agency staff. A practical checklist to keep momentum through summer.
Why Health and Safety Matters: When to Hire a Consultant
Hire a health and safety consultant when you grow, your team is stretched, risks get complex, or you receive an enforcement notice - whatever your size.
On the Radar: Local Authority Enforcement Priorities (2026–2029)
The HSE's LAC 67/2 strategy sets council inspection priorities for 2026-2029, shifting towards health risks. What local-authority-regulated businesses should check now.
HSE prosecutions: The cost of poor compliance
Four recent HSE prosecutions - occupational asthma, severed fingers, a lost leg and a fall from height - and the basic controls that would have prevented each.
The RIDDOR public consultation: What it means for you
The HSE's 2026 RIDDOR consultation proposes five reforms to incident reporting. What the changes mean for duty holders, and what to do before it closes on 30 June.
How to Report Health and Safety Incidents Involving Employees Under RIDDOR
How to Report Health and Safety Concerns under RIDDOR, including reportable incidents, key deadlines and compliant recordkeeping.
Why businesses choose
Opus Safety
We've worked across UK industry for years. The numbers show what our clients achieve when compliance becomes a strength, not a burden.
%201.svg)
