Health and Safety consultants are always concerned when employees are found to have been exposed to Asbestos. There really is no excuse when not taking health and safety seriously, and when asbestos is involved it is all the more concerning that business owners are not following the laws and regulations which are there to save lives.

Large Fine After Swansea Firm Ignored Asbestos Problem

This week a Swansea firm has been fined £12,000 by the Swansea Magistrates Court after they pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 23 (1) (a) of the Construction Regulations 2007.  They also pleaded guilty for breaching Regulation 5 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006. In addition to the fine the firm, J C Irvine Limited, was ordered to pay court costs of £2148.50.

The Health and Safety Executive were informed that J C Irvine Ltd workers were being exposed to asbestos while they were carrying out refurbishment at a building in The Strand during April 27^th and May 12^th 2010. They had not carried out an asbestos survey before work began and there were no health and safety services undertaken to make sure that the employees were not exposed to the deadly asbestos fibres which were being released into the air.

Asbestos is Deadly – Health and Safety Services are there to Help Prevent Loss of Life

The HSE decided to visit the building in The Strand on May 12^th and discovered that the claims were true.  They awarded the firm with a Prohibition Notice which took immediate effect.  Health and Safety consultants and the HSE take asbestos very seriously and with good reason.  In Wales alone there have been 1,320 deaths between 1982 and 2008 caused by Mesothelioma which is just one of the four diseases which is caused by Asbestos.

The construction industry is considered to be one of the most vulnerable groups when it comes to working with Asbestos and contracting the deadly diseases which are caused as a direct result from being in close contact with the substance.  Buildings which were erected before the year 2000 contain asbestos as it was frequently used as a building material.

To avoid exposing yourself or any of your employees to the substance it is worth carrying out a asbestos surveys. Veritas Consulting, the health and safety consultants are able to provide you with the 2 types of asbestos surveys which can help to save lives and ensure you are meeting your legal duty which states that you must be responsible for managing the risks of exposure.

Take Asbestos Seriously

The deadly material is responsible for 4000 deaths per year. The associated diseases include:

• Mesothelioma
• Lung cancer
• Asbestosis
• Diffuse Pleural Thickening

A survey can help to find any asbestos in the building or site so that you are aware of its presence and position and help you to plan the correct type of removal so that none of your employees are exposed. Call 0800 1488 677 to find out more about the asbestos health and safety services which are available.

About David Cant

David Cant is a Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner extraordinaire. He has a wealth of Industry experience and is the MD of Veritas Consulting. David also Blogs about Health and Safety here Health and Safety Consultants

His aim is to flavour Health and Safety with integrity, served with a side of humour You can find David on - Twitter and Google also Linkedin