Eastbourne Man Fined For Asbestos Removal

Monday 29 September 2008 Health and Safety Executive (South East)

Eastbourne man fined £44,000 for unlicensed removal of asbestos
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging people to ensure that they use licensed companies to remove asbestos insulation board or asbestos lagging.
This follows the joint prosecution with the Environment Agency of Robert McCart today, a Director of two Eastbourne based companies, Sussex Asbestos Solutions (South East) Ltd and Sussex Asbestos Solutions Ltd. At Eastbourne Magistrates' Court, Mr McCart pleaded guilty and was fined £36,000 and £4,000 costs for breaching seven regulations under The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (please see notes to editors). He was also ordered to pay £4,000 compensation to the shop owner.
The Court clearly accepted the gravity of the offence and also disqualified Mr McCart from being a Director for four years.
Mr McCart was charged with health and safety offences following work he carried out to a shop in Gore Park Road, Eastbourne between 17 and 19 November 2007. He was employed by a local businessman to remove asbestos insulation board from his shop. Mr McCart undertook the removal of asbestos insulation board without the required licence for work with asbestos, and without notifying the HSE.
Mr McCart failed to carry out the appropriate precautions and left a white sack containing broken pieces of asbestos insulation board outside the shop, and asbestos debris inside the property. Mr McCart's actions put members of the public at risk of exposure to potentially lethal asbestos fibres.
HSE inspector, Amanda Huff, said:
"Robert McCart deliberately ignored the law for financial gain. Mr McCart was aware of the dangers associated with asbestos and yet decided to risk not only his own life but also members of the public.
"The HSE won't hesitate to take action against people who breach Health and Safety Law and put others at risk.
"Asbestos related diseases kill more people than any other single work related illness. It is essential that when any work is carried out which might potentially expose people to asbestos fibres that only competent operatives are used and the appropriate precautions are taken."
Asbestos licences are only issued to companies that are able to demonstrate that they have the appropriate training and competence in place. A list of licensed contractors can be found on HSE's web site at http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/licensing/index.htm