The Health and Safety Executive has successfully prosecuted the firm after they failed to undertake a detailed ‘Refurbishment and Demolition Asbestos Survey’ as is required by the law. They were prosecuted at Ipswich Magistrates Court this week after pleading guilty to four breaches of The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, according to sources from the HSE.
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The incidents occurred in 2012 during refurbishments at Newmarket College School where walls and flooring were removed, which resulted in the disturbance of asbestos in the building. Asbestos, when left alone, is generally harmless – but when it is disturbed the fibres can be inhaled and result in deadly illnesses such as mesothelioma.
The company prosecuted, Labform Ltd, received a fine of £22,400 and were ordered to pay £11,741 in costs after exposing the workers, teachers and children at the school to the deadly substance.
In a word from our legal team:
“Asbestos related deaths are the single biggest killer when it comes to work incident cases, and it often takes decades for the symptoms to appear; and by that time it is usually too late. Asbestos related diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma are diagnosed all the time and a lot of people are left with no choice but to make a claim – even when it’s too late, for the sake of their families. ““For a firm to have exposed workers, children and teachers in a school despite the substance being banned here in the UK since 1999 is totally untenable.”
Have you been affected by an asbestos related illness?
Even if you are not sure on how or when you may have been exposed, you should call our team on 0800 634 7575 for advice. If your former place of work exposed you and they have since closed down you can still make a claim and it doesn’t stop you from claiming when you period of exposure may have been many decades ago.
The symptoms can often not present themselves in the victim until old age but this doesn’t impede you from being able to start a case. Contact our team of experts for more advice today.