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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.

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Published Jun 19, 2018

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