Survey company prosecuted as HSE campaign to raise awareness of asbestos danger begins

An asbestos surveying company has been fined after being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for failing to identify asbestos insulation board in school buildings in Rhondda Cynon Taf during a series of type 2 asbestos surveys carried out for the Authority.

Normandie Analytical Services Ltd ("The Company") carried out the surveys at Cardinal Newman Comprehensive School in Pontypridd, and Aberdare Boys School, Aberdare. Both surveys were inadequate in that the Company failed to identify the presence of asbestos in a number of areas within the schools.

HSE’s investigation followed an incident at Cardinal Newman Comprehensive School when asbestos insulation board was unintentionally disturbed by construction workers. This resulted in the construction workers being exposed to a potential risk to their health.

The Company, whose head office is in Guernsey, have branches across the UK including Bridgend, were prosecuted for two breaches of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and pleaded guilty at a hearing in Llwynypia Magistrates Court on 16th October 2008.  They were fined £18,000 and ordered to pay over £21,000 in costs.

HSE inspector Steve Lewis said: "This case demonstrates a failure by this Company to carry out systematic and comprehensive checks for asbestos.

"While asbestos is the greatest single cause of work related deaths in the UK, it is present in many public buildings, and poses no threat whatsoever when it remains in a sealed or undisturbed state. Exposure to asbestos can only be prevented if the locations of asbestos materials are known. Asbestos surveys need to be accurate, thorough and comprehensive so that asbestos in buildings can be properly managed.  In this case the Company clearly did not have appropriate quality control checks in place, which resulted in the material being disturbed."

Following the incident at Cardinal Newman Comprehensive School the construction workers were advised on precautions that should be taken and the School engaged an asbestos removal company to make the area safe. 

Organisations responsible for buildings have a clear duty to manage asbestos. They must identify where asbestos is present, or is considered to be present, and must ensure that appropriate procedures are in place to monitor its condition and ensure that it is not disturbed without appropriate controls being in place.

HSE’s new communications campaign "Asbestos: The hidden killer" aims to inform tradesmen that asbestos is a danger that is real and relevant to them. Currently asbestos kills 4,000 people a year. More people die each year from exposure to asbestos than in road accidents.  Any building built or refurbished before the year 2000 may contain the substance and because of this trades people like joiners, plumbers, electricians could be exposed to this hidden killer.