A contractor has been fined almost £10,500, including costs, for putting workers at risk of asbestos exposure.
A1 Property Maintenance Management was the principal contractor during work at the former Unicorn pub (pictured), on Liverpool Road in Eccles, Greater Manchester.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), during a routine inspection on 16 May 2022, an inspector discovered 12 square metres of asbestos insulation board had been present in a food lift shaft, but had been “illegally removed by unknown individuals”.
As a result, the health and safety watchdog issued a prohibition notice, halting all work on the site until an asbestos survey had been completed.
In a previous incident, the HSE said a site worker had noticed that the pub had been broken into.
The worker entered the building and discovered what appeared to be asbestos debris in the area around the lift shaft.
“The debris was later wrapped and removed by a licensed asbestos-removal contractor,” the HSE said.
But the contractor “failed to carry out a full asbestos survey to confirm that all asbestos-containing materials had been removed before allowing further construction work to take place”, it added.
A1 Property Maintenance Management Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(6) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. It was fined £5,360 and ordered to pay £5,117 in costs at a hearing at Tameside Magistrates’ Court, the HSE said.
After the hearing on 30 July, an HSE spokesperson said: “This was a serious incident and put those working in the building at risk of being exposed to the harmful effects of asbestos.
“Dutyholders are reminded of the need to review without delay an asbestos assessment if there has been a significant change in the premises to which the assessment relates.”
The HSE noted that workers in trades such as construction, maintenance, demolition and installation are at particular risk of exposure to asbestos, and should ensure they have “appropriate training” before starting work that might disturb the material.
