Asbestos Still Poses a Threat to Tradespeople
The Health and Safety Executive has launched safety campaign after new research found tradespeople, including construction workers, carpenters and painters and decorators, could come into contact with deadly asbestos on average more than 100 times a year. The survey also revealed some common myths believed by those at risk, with one in seven (14%) believing that drinking […]
Scottish Asbestos Claims – Find Out Why When You Were Exposed Matters
Claimants making asbestos claims may have no legal right to compensation where at the time of exposure levels of protection offered by employers would have been considered adequate, albeit considered negligent by today’s standards. In McGregor v Genco, the Court highlighted this point, underlining the importance that all claims must be looked at individually, on a case-by-case basis, […]
Firm in Court Over Asbestos Failings
A building firm in Battersea has been fined for failing to highlight the known presence of asbestos insulating board (AIB) at a warehouse. As a result of this failing, a foreman and others were exposed to potential harm when the AIB was ripped out during refurbishment work. The company was in possession of a detailed asbestos survey […]
Views sought on consolidated asbestos code of practice
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a consultation on changes to the content of an Asbestos-related Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) that will consolidate two existing documents. Following an initial consultation in June 2012, it was agreed by the HSE Board that a number of ACOPs would be revised, consolidated or withdrawn in line with […]
Supreme Court rules in mesothelioma liability case
The Supreme Court has given its decision in the appeal by insurance companies over their obligations under various contracts of employers’ liability (“EL”) insurance. In particular, the appeals concern the scope of the insurers’ obligations to indemnify employers against their liabilities towards employees who have contracted mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma has an unusually […]
Demolition firm sentenced over asbestos danger
A demolition firm has been sentenced after knocking down a building in the Lake District containing hundreds of asbestos ceiling tiles, putting the lives of workers and local residents at risk. IBT Contracting Ltd was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after carrying out the work at a former photography factory, despite not […]
Fines after workers exposed to asbestos
An Ammanford-based knitwear company and a cladding firm site foreman have been fined for putting workers and visitors at risk of exposure to asbestos. Corgi Hosiery Ltd contracted Dragon Cladding Ltd to remove an asbestos cement sheet roof at their New Road branch in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire Having received a complaint about the work, the Health […]
Building contractor prosecuted over asbestos exposure
A building contractor has been sentenced after its workers were exposed to potentially deadly asbestos fibres during refurbishment work at premises in Wales. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted J C Irvine Limited following an investigation which revealed that work on the refurbishment was being carried out without an asbestos survey. Swansea Magistrates heard […]
Marks and Spencer fined £1 Million for safety failings
Marks and Spencer plc and three of its contractors have been fined for putting members of the public, staff and construction workers at risk of exposure to asbestos-containing materials during the refurbishment of two stores in Reading and Bournemouth. Asbestos is the biggest single cause of work-related deaths in the UK, with an estimated 4,000 […]
Training pledge to tackle asbestos death toll
A poignant target of 4000 hours of free asbestos awareness training has been set in a new initiative to help tradesmen across Britain protect themselves from the deadly dust. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in partnership with the training industry, is calling for those who run training course to pledge free hours during September […]
