Firm fined after asbestos accident claim risk ignoredRSS Feed

A firm has been fined after it ignored warnings about the potential accident claim and health hazards of working with asbestos.

Pontypool-based Ron Couch Building Contractors Ltd carried out unlicensed asbestos removal, even though the firm had been warned the materials being handled contained the dangerous substance.

The firm pleaded guilty to two charges under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 at Caerphilly Magistrates' Court and was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £1,250 in costs.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Steve Richardson commented: "The company was well aware of its legal duties in terms of asbestos work as, prior to this incident, it carried out removal of the asbestos boiler flue in a safe manner using qualified personnel."

The HSE points out that asbestos is the biggest single cause of work-related deaths in the UK.

An HSE investigation recently led to the prosecution of McVities manufacturer United Biscuits after an accident at work left a worker with severed fingers.

Posted by M E Dixon

Serious Law, accident claim solicitors

Firm fined after man loses fingertip in accident at work

07 February 2012

An accident at work that saw an employee's fingertip cut off by a circular saw has resulted in a firm being fined £10,000.Eaton Williams Group, trading as Colman Moducel, was prosecuted by the...

Read More...

Man suffers broken bone after arm pierced by steel rods

06 February 2012

The Health and Safety Executive has prosecuted a company after an employee suffered a broken right arm during an accident at work.Machine operator Steven Rowe had his arm impaled by two steel bars when...

Read More...

New employees 'most at risk of accident at work'

03 February 2012

New and inexperienced individuals are the most likely to experience an accident at work, firms have been warned.Speaking at the RenewableUK Health and Safety 2012 conference in Manchester, chair of the...

Read More...