Asbestos Contractor Fined

Below is a report of another Asbestos Contractor fined for poor management of asbestos removal.

The report is an extract from the HSE website;

"A Wigan building contractor has appeared in court after exposing a homeowner and her family to asbestos while carrying out a garage conversion.

Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard that Anthony McGrath, trading as Winstanley Construction, carried out asbestos removal work during the conversion when he was not licenced to do so and failed to carry out this work in a safe manner resulting in asbestos contamination in the ground floor of the house.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the incident at Bassett Grove, Wigan found Mr McGrath had removed Asbestos Insulating Board ceiling panels from the garage, broken them up, and placed them in the garden for several days. When the homeowner queried what the boards were, she was told it was asbestos, but they were safe and would be removed soon.

After ringing the local council the homeowner then contacted a licensed asbestos removal contractor who confirmed that the boards were Asbestos Insulating Board and should be removed under controlled conditions. Asbestos contamination was found in several areas of the house and the householder was unable to re-enter the house for more than a week while a clean-up operation costing in excess of £12,000 was carried out.

Anthony McGrath of Winstanley Road, Billinge, Wigan pleaded guilty to breaches of Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and Regulation 8 (1) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. He was fined £475 for each breach and ordered to pay a compensation order of £7,500.

Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector David Norton said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices. Companies and individuals should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards”."

If you have any doubts about the contractor you are using and want a second opinion, then please contact Safeline Environmental on 01299 251083.