Posts Tagged ‘Asbestos Identification Facilities’
School asbestos compensation puts councils under pressure
In landmark ruling, Dianne Willmore wins £240,000 posthumously after exposure as a child
The government faces pressure to assess the risk of asbestos in schools following a landmark legal victory for the family of a woman who died after “low-level” exposure as a secondary school pupil.
The supreme court has upheld a £240,000 compensation claim by Dianne Willmore, 49, in the first case of a former pupil successfully suing a local authority for negligent exposure to the risk of deadly asbestos dust.
Campaigners said the case had “profound” financial implications for local authorities and insurers as it paved the way for similar “low-level exposure” claims.
The judgment comes as the Department for Education’s asbestos steering group called on the education secretary, Michael Gove, to begin a full assessment of asbestos risks to children.
Company fined after exposing workers and the public to asbestos
A refurbishment company has been fined after workers and the public were exposed to asbestos in a Leicestershire village.
Shengxuan Company Ltd was converting a shop in Borough Street, Castle Donington, into a restaurant on 16 June 2010.
Part of the work involved converting an integral garage into a storeroom but in doing so, workers disturbed asbestos-containing materials. This was then put in a skip by the workers, who were unaware of its presence or its risks.
A member of the public with experience in the asbestos industry walked past the site, saw what was in the skip and reported it to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Other debris was also seen on the floor between the skip and the garage.
The HSE’s subsequent investigation found the firm had not made its workers aware of the dangers of asbestos and had not given them any training in how to recognise or deal with it. A prohibition notice was served, stopping all work until the problem was rectified. Read more
Roofing company fined £12,000 over asbestos error
A roofing company has been fined £12,000 for causing asbestos contamination while carrying out cleaning work in a Leicestershire town.
Concept Roofing and Cladding of Hampshire was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after cleaning roofs in Market Harborough.
The company used a pressure washer on industrial roof tiles, causing asbestos fibres to be released.
An HSE spokesman said this method of cleaning was “wholly unsuitable”.
A number of businesses in the Leicestershire County Council-owned units had to close for several weeks and the area had to be decontaminated at a cost of £500,000.
‘Potentially carcinogenic’
Nottingham City Council fined for asbestos failings at depot
Nottingham City Council has been fined £30,000 for failing to manage the risk of asbestos after around 150 people were exposed to the potentially lethal material at one of its depots.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the council after a visiting contractor spotted debris on the floor of a building at the Woolsthorpe depot in Bilborough and suspected it may be asbestos-containing material.
When the discovery was made on 23 May 2009 the building was occupied by the council’s Street Scene team, part of the council’s neighbourhood services section responsible for maintaining and improving the city’s environment. The building was used as offices, garages, a mess room and storage.
UK asbestos rules must change, says European Commission
The European Commission has asked the UK to change parts of its asbestos legislation to comply fully with the EU directive on protecting workers from asbestos.
On Wednesday (16 February), the Commission sent a formal request — known as a “reasoned opinion” under EU infringement procedures — requiring the UK to bring its rules into line with EU law within two months.
The Commission received a complaint that the UK authorities had not correctly transposed Article 3(3)(a) and (b) of the asbestos directive 2009/148/EC into UK legislation.