A cladding installation business owner has been fined after he exposed his workers to airborne asbestos fibres.
Michael Southern instructed one employee and one casual labourer to remove and replace soffit boards at a house in Bedfordshire in August 2011.
However, earlier this month Bedford Magistrates’ Court heard how Mr Southern had not actually carried out a suitable survey prior to the refurbishment work taking place, meaning he did not know whether asbestos was present at the property. He therefore did not hold a license to undertake work with the potentially fatal material.
Mr Southern was informed by a neighbour that the soffits were made of asbestos insulating board; however this did not deter him from allowing the work to carry on.
A HSE inspector visited the site after a complaint was lodged and the investigator immediately stopped further work from taking place on the site.
Mr Southern, trading as PMF Cladding, was fined £7,015 and ordered to pay £3,200 in costs after pleading guilty to the charges.