Company fined after asbestos failings

A Peterborough company has been fined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for failing to undertake asbestos assessments.

Property management company, Thistlemoor Healthcare and Management Ltd, was sentenced after failing to carry out an asbestos survey prior to undertaking extensive refurbishment works.

Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court heard how, between April and May 2017, construction work had been undertaken at two properties by Thistlemoor, both of which were likely to contain asbestos, and neither of which had been properly surveyed for asbestos.

An investigation by the HSE found the works undertaken were likely to disturb asbestos containing materials during the strip out and part demolition of the two properties. Despite this, the company failed in its duty to carry out an asbestos survey for either property.

Thistlemoor Healthcare and Management Ltd of Thistlemoor Road, Peterborough pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 5 of Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and has been fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,805.60.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Samantha Wells said: “The risk of exposure to asbestos could so easily have been avoided if the company had carried out a suitable and sufficient asbestos assessment to identify the presence of asbestos within properties prior to commencing refurbishment work.

“Companies should be aware HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

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