Last Updated on 12th April 2022 by Dan

A builder from Birmingham has fined after pleading guilty to exposing young children and their parents to potentially deadly asbestos fibres when converting a property on Rover Drive, Castle Bromwich.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation following a call from a Solihull Council Environmental Health Officer who suspected unlicensed removal work was being carried out at the property by Nicholas Sharpe, trading as Sharpe Builders.

The HSE investigation found that Mr. Sharpe had been commissioned to covert a garage into a living room and he had done this wearing only a dust mask for protection whilst removing a number of Asbestos Insulating Boards (AIBs) from the ceiling. The asbestos containing material was then broken into pieces and put the uncovered panels on the householder’s driveway.

The court heard that Mr Sharpe had not ensured that the legally required Refurbishment and Demolition Survey was implemented and thus no required plan for the work. It was found that Mr Sharpe did not hold the necessary license to remove the asbestos boards, and failed to take adequate steps to prevent both the exposure to and spread of asbestos fibres generated by his work.

Nicholas Sharpe, also of Rover Drive, Castle Bromwich, pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and was fined a total of £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,100.

Armco Asbestos Consultants offer all the required services to ensure that you operate within the asbestos law and protect yourself and others from potentially deadly asbestos fibre inhalation. We offer consultancy and advice, both Management, and Refurbishment and Demolition, Surveys and sampling, asbestos related training and both licensed, and unlicensed removals and remedial work.

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Published Mar 13, 2013