Last week, the UK government reiterated ways in which schools MUST manage their asbestos during maintenance and building works.
On the government’s website, a case study highlights the heavy HSE penalties for not complying with the asbestos management regulations.
Case study 3 – The importance of managing works in line with regulations to avoid asbestos exposure, prosecution and financial sanctions
The unsafe removal of asbestos insulation boards at a large school led to several people being exposed to asbestos fibres.
HSE prosecuted the school and the director of the company responsible for the refurbishment project, after an investigation found they had failed to identify and prevent the risk of asbestos exposure.
The HSE investigation found that over an 18-month period, from the initial design stages through to the construction work, there was inadequate planning and a failure to carry out a full asbestos survey, despite the fact that a sample taken from the building had identified the presence of asbestos.
The school was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £13,000 in costs. The director of the company was fined £10,000 with costs of £6,000.
If you would like some professional help in surveying or managing asbestos in your school, please contact us as soon as possible.
