Experts Call For Lessons To Be Learned From HSE Prosecution

Specialist lawyers representing victims of asbestos-related disease have urged that lessons must be learned after a Norfolk demolition firm was fined after it sold a boiler which was found to contain the deadly material.

Anglian Demolition & Asbestos Ltd has been fined £2,750 and ordered to pay costs after pleading guilty to an offence in relation to the incident in May and June 2012, when the company was the contractor for work at a boiler house in the Princess of Wales Hospital in Ely.

The firm removed two boilers from the site and sold them to Kings Boiler Hire, where one of them was found to contain asbestos.

Following the hearing at Norwich Magistrates’ Court at the end of August, the Health Safety Executive said the sale of any asbestos or items with the material intentionally added to them was illegal under the REACH Enforcement Regulations 2008.

Reacting to the case, Irwin Mitchell’s specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers urged that all contractors involved in construction and demolition work are aware of their responsibilities.

If you or a loved one has been affected by an asbestos related illness, our solicitors can help you to claim compensation. See our Asbestos Claims page for more information.

Expert Opinion

“The dangers of asbestos have been known for a number of decades now and while clear regulations are in place to ensure it is always managed safely, there are still worrying cases when companies fail to comply with regulations and ultimately put workers and the public at risk. <br/> <br/>“The nature of our work means we see first-hand the terrible consequences that asbestos exposure can have on so many lives, not just victims affected by conditions such as mesothelioma but also their loved ones. <br/> <br/>“As such, the importance of handling the material correctly cannot be overstated. It is vital that lessons are learned from this case and companies ensure the mistakes made in this case are not repeated.” Rosemary Giles - Partner