Asbestos-Related Diseases Lawyers Comment On The Fine

Asbestos-related diseases lawyers at law firm Irwin Mitchell are concerned to see that tradespeople are still not aware of the dangers of asbestos after a handyman was fined for removing asbestos boards in an office in Lichfield.

Daniel Hepple, 35, from Tamworth, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £480 and ordered to pay £1,000 court fees after he carried out the removal of asbestos in an unsafe manner – according to Litchfield District Council. 

The court heard that Wetenhall Properties had instructed Mr Hepple to remove the asbestos insulation boards from some internal doors of its offices at Energy House on Lombard Street.

But as they were removed by an unlicensed person, the work would have resulted in harmful asbestos fibres being released into the air.

Ian Bailey, partner in the London office of national law firm Irwin Mitchell said:

Expert Opinion

“This is an alarming case of workers and potentially members of the public being exposed to asbestos. The dangers of even small exposures to asbestos dust have now been known for many years. Asbestos dust is deadly and for this reason the court takes breaches very seriously.
“Despite the high levels of publicity around asbestos and the campaigns from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) promoting the need for tradespeople to be aware of these dangers, it is very concerning that this sort of incident continues to occur.

“No one can be complacent about the risks from asbestos exposure. It is not a historic issue as many of our old buildings still contain this deadly material and even now, we are dealing with the legacy of low level asbestos exposure affecting teachers and doctors who are affected by the terminal condition mesothelioma.

“We call upon the Government to have a clear management plan for asbestos and its removal in our public buildings to ensure that this and future generations are properly protected.” Ian Bailey - Partner

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