Failures by two Devon-based companies led to two workers being exposed to potentially-fatal asbestos fibres, a court has heard.
Pilkington Plumbing and Heating Ltd permitted two of its employees to remove a back boiler and drill a wall panel at a property in Ilfracombe, North Devon, despite not having had an asbestos survey of the site from North Devon Homes.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the incident, which occurred in September 2012, and yesterday (19th January), North Devon Homes was prosecuted at Barnstaple Magistrates Court.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching the Construction (Design Management) Regulations and as a result has been fined £1,000 and told to pay £650 in costs.
At an earlier hearing on 8th October, Pilkington Plumbing and Heating Ltd pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Control of Asbestos Regulations and fined a total of £1,500 coupled with £642 in costs.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Barry Trudgian said: “As a result of North Devon Homes’ failure to provide the required information and Pilkington not waiting for the asbestos details before starting work, two workers have been needlessly exposed to asbestos.
“The risks associated with asbestos in housing stock are well-known and the regulations governing its removal are long-standing. This incident could have been avoided if Pilkington had carried out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the work liable to disturb asbestos.”
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