UK construction firm fined for asbestos violations
An English construction company recently pleaded guilty to asbestos violations after knowingly exposing its employees to the deadly mineral.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), England’s federal health agency, Greswolde Construction did not warn its employees that asbestos was present during a project at Rokeby Primary School in Rugby despite having a survey that showed what areas contained asbestos.
“The dangers of asbestos are well known in the building industry so for the managers of Greswolde Construction not to inform their employees of its presence shows a complete disregard for their safety and wellbeing,” said HSE inspector Paul Cooper. “What makes it worse is that this work was being carried out in a primary school where young children were in the next room.”
In addition to not warning its employees about the presence of asbestos at the site, none of them were trained to handle asbestos nor were they given protective equipment.
Greswold Construction will now have to pay a £2,268 fine.
Asbestos exposure can cause malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.