Survey On Warehouse Not Shared With Team

Battersea construction firm Redwood Contractors has been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs after pleading guilty to breaches in relation to the control of asbestos at a warehouse in Berkshire in 2011.

The company was prosecuted after it was discovered that the company possessed an asbestos survey identifying the location of asbestos wall panels in the Wokingham building, but failed to share the information with the team on the ground.

This meant that asbestos insulation board was mistaken for asbestos cement and removed without consideration of the recognised control measures or the use of the necessary protective equipment.

The issue means that both the foreman on the site and other workers may have inhaled asbestos fibres during their work.

Karen Morris, an inspector for the Health and Safety Executive, said: “Everyone knows that asbestos is a potential killer, and the onus is on duty holders to implement proper control measures at all times when dealing with asbestos.”

Expert Opinion

The risks that asbestos can pose to those who are exposed to it are very well known, yet we continue to see cases brought by the Health and Safety Executive where companies have failed to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of employees. <br/> <br/>"The failure to share key information in this incident is deeply concerning and it is absolutely vital that steps are taken to learn lessons from this, ultimately to prevent the same problems from arising again in the future. <br/> <br/>"Asbestos exposure can have a huge impact on victims and their families, so we would once again urge employers to ensure this incredibly important issue is always given the attention that it deserves."