Dorset builder fined for failure to undertake asbestos survey prior to demolition

Last Updated on 16th September 2019 by

Stuart Pearson, a self-employed builder from Verwood, Dorset has been fined for demolishing a building without first carrying out an asbestos survey. He was prosecuted by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at Guildford Magistrates’ Court for breaching the Control of Asbestos Regulations between 20 April and 1 May 2011.

The Court heard that Mr. Pearson had been employed to carry out the demolition of a house in Woking, Surrey, before groundworks were laid for a new property. Mr Pearson was given an Asbestos Management Survey which had recently been implemented on one area of the house after a plumber had refused to repair the boiler due to the presence of asbestos. It was highlighted in the survey that there were 12 metres of asbestos in poor condition with two of three areas classified as ‘high risk’. It went on to state: ‘This material is in very poor condition and debris now exists around the boiler and the floor within the rest of the room. This room must not be accessed until a full environmental clean and removal of all asbestos-containing materials have been carried out by a licensed asbestos contractor.’

It was stated that contrary to the report and thus the Control of Asbestos Regulations, Mr Pearson went ahead and demolished the property without following the procedures set out in the previous report and without having a pre-demolition asbestos survey carried out on the entire property. The defendant pleaded guilty to breaching of Regulation 5 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations and, was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,500.

HSE Inspector Russell Beckett stated that “Before any demolition work is undertaken a survey must be carried out to identify any asbestos present and prevent exposure to anyone working on site and to those who subsequently process the waste. Any asbestos must be removed in the correct manner’.

Here at Armco we undertake all types of asbestos surveying on both domestic and commercial properties of any size. Please contact the Armco team on 0161 763 3727 for a further details and a competitive quote.

 

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Published May 02, 2012

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