Although this was not a school related incident it does follow on from a recent HSE prosecution when a Hartlepool man was handed a community order after he admitted removing asbestos from a school when he wasn’t licenced to do so. However, this recent case does highlight again the importance of having a robust contractor vetting procedures in place especially concerning high risk activities.

Director jailed for failing to protect workers from asbestos exposure

A company director has been jailed for 8 months after failing to protect workers from exposure to asbestos at a student development project.

HSE’s investigation revealed that the company had removed an estimated 10 tonnes of asbestos insulating board (AIB) during the refurbishment in late 2019 and early 2020.

The dangerous materials were stripped out by workers who were:

· unqualified to do the job

· unaware of the risks to their health.

Read this press release for full details about the incident.

HSE has recently updated its guidance on asbestos safety. It has also just launched the Asbestos: Your Duty campaign, which aims to improve understanding of what the legal duty to manage asbestos involves.

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