Contact us 0161 763 3727 Menu

Asbestos containing materials – Company fined for failure to protect employees

Last Updated on 12th April 2022 by

Furniture manufacturer fined for poor condition of asbestos containing materials

Aquapac Ltd, a furniture manufacturing company in Glasgow, have been fined by the HSE the sum of £6,000 for their failure to protect their employees from exposure to asbestos containing materials.

The HSE inspected the business premises on 6 August 2014, where an inspector raised concerns he had about damage to asbestos containing materials within the structural columns and beams of the building. 

Following the inspection, the HSE carried out a full investigation and discovered that Aquapac Limited had committed multiple failures in assessing risk to employees, meaning they were exposed to asbestos containing materials.

Asbestos containing materials - Aquapac Ltd fined for failure to protect employees

Employees, for example, were not even made aware of any asbestos containing materials on the premises.

As such, this put them at great risk if the asbestos should become damaged or disturbed, as they would be unaware of the potential risk of asbestos exposure.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Aquapac Limited of Glasgow pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Russell Berry, HSE inspector, said after the hearing, “This incident could so easily have been avoided had the company simply monitored the condition of the asbestos containing materials (ACMs) at their premises and had in place robust procedures to deal with any deterioration or damage to those ACMs.”

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Duty holders and employers have a legal responsibility to manage asbestos in their properties, carrying out an asbestos survey in their building so as not to put employees at risk.

So make sure you contact our Armco office to arrange an asbestos survey, before it’s too late! 

Whether you need an asbestos management survey, or a refurbishment/ demolition survey, contact us on 0161 763 3727 or by visiting https://www.armco.org.uk/

Finally, for all your asbestos training needs call 0161 761 4424 or visit https://www.armcoasbestostraining.co.uk/to book an asbestos awareness training course.

Latest News...
25th September 2025Last Updated on 3rd October 2025 by Phil Collins Walk into any British structure built before 1980, and there is a good chance you are sharing space with one of the deadliest materials ever used in construction. Amosite (often called “brown asbestos” for its distinctive greyish-brown colour) lurks behind walls, around pipes and in ceiling […] [...] Read more...
10th September 2025Last Updated on 3rd October 2025 by Phil Collins Why was asbestos used in roof tiles? Asbestos was originally prized for its heat and fire resistance, as well as durability, and was therefore used in the construction of properties all across the UK. During the 1950s and 1960s, asbestos was extremely popular when building new […] [...] Read more...
22nd August 2025Chrysotile (or white asbestos as it is commonly called) is said by experts to be the most popular type of asbestos used throughout the 20th century. This mineral has curly, flexible fibres and made up a huge majority of all the asbestos used before we fully understood how dangerous it was. What Made It So […] [...] Read more...
22nd August 2025If you are looking for asbestos training, you have probably got questions about what is available and what you actually need. At Armco Asbestos Training we have been helping people get the right training for years, and we also know it can seem a bit overwhelming at first. Asbestos Awareness Training (the basics) A good […] [...] Read more...
22nd July 2025It has been a while since we have covered this crucial topic, so we thought it was time for a refresh. With over 20 years of experience as asbestos surveyors and consultants, we still get asked the same fundamental question: “How do I know if it’s asbestos?” The honest answer? It is trickier than most […] [...] Read more...
11th July 2025At Armco Consultants, one of the most common questions we get asked is does asbestos affect dogs and cats and frankly, it is one that more pet owners should be thinking about. The answer is yes, asbestos can absolutely harm your pets, and in some ways, they are more vulnerable than we are. Why Pets […] [...] Read more...

Published Jun 19, 2018

Recent areas covered

© 2025 Armco Asbestos Consultants | Sitemap | Privacy | Terms