A specialist asbestos company has been fined after failing to detect asbestos at a housing association owned demolition site, and issuing an incorrect and misleading report.
Greater Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard EAS Asbestos Limited were commissioned to conduct refurbishment and demolition surveys by Mercer Brother Limited, a construction company contracted to demolish garages for Hyndburn Homes, a housing association which is now part of 35,000 home social landlord Onward.
EAS Asbestos stated in their surveys that asbestos was only present in the cement roof sheets, there were no areas that could not be accessed, and that there was no asbestos insulation board present in the garages.
In February 2017, the demolition of the garages went ahead but work was stopped when suspect material was found. Another surveying company confirmed the presence of large amounts of asbestos insulation board in the demolition rubble. An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive found the survey carried out by EAS Asbestos Ltd was incorrect and misleading. EAS Asbestos Limited of Lower Meadow Lane, Huthwaite, Sutton in Ashfield, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £6,700 and ordered to pay costs of £1,000 and a victim surcharge of £170.
Speaking after the case, HSE inspector Jacqueline Western said:
“This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices. Companies should be aware the HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards”.