Prosecution After HSE Inspector Spotted Man Working Unprotected In Canterbury

A man has been fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs after admitting a safety breach relating to an incident in which he exposed himself to asbestos during work at a Canterbury school.

Jack Conn was a supervisor at a Medway company licensed to remove asbestos at the time of the incident and was spotted by a Health and Safety Executive inspector working without the necessary protective equipment at Canterbury Academy at the end of May last year.

While a second worker was seen using the right equipment on the site, Mr Conn was observed walking around a sealed enclosure without a respiratory mask and with the hood of his protective overalls down.

Nicola Wellard, a HSE inspector, said the supervisor should have been “setting a high standard to other employees” and been seen taking health and safety seriously.

She added: “It really does beggar belief that a trained supervisor with a licensed company, fully aware of the very real dangers associated with exposure to asbestos, could then casually disregard those dangers and work in a contaminated environment.”

Expert Opinion

This is an incredibly worrying example of health and safety failings, with someone in a position of responsibility failing to set the right standards to their fellow workers. <br/> <br/>"The dangers of asbestos are very well known and, through our work, we have seen numerous tragic cases when people exposed to the deadly material have gone on to develop conditions including the terminal cancer mesothelioma. <br/> <br/>"The importance of protection against exposure cannot be underestimated and we would urge employers to ensure they learn the very serious lessons which this case brings to mind. Circumstances like this incident should not be repeated in the future."