Contractors exposed to asbestos at former nightclub site

Date:

5 April 2011

A property developer put his workers at risk by failing to identify the presence of asbestos before allowing them to start work on a nightclub in Wrexham.

Michael Murton, 36, of Bewdley, near Kidderminster, instructed contractors to remove sprayed coating containing amosite (brown asbestos) from steel beams while refurbishing the nightclub. The workers were exposed to the deadly substance between 11 and 24 February 2010 at 33-35 Brook Street, Wrexham.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found Mr Murton had failed to survey the property before the work started. This led to the unlicensed and uncontrolled removal of the asbestos-containing material and its subsequent spread in and around the building.

Michael Murton, of Bewdley, near Kidderminster previously pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 5, 8(1), 11(1)(a) and 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 at Mold Magistrates Court.

He also pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to Regulation 19 of the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005, two duty of care offences contrary to Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of treating and disposing of asbestos in a manner likely to cause harm to human health or pollution of the environment contrary to Section 33 (1)(c) Environmental Protection Act 1990. These charges were brought by the Environment Agency Wales.

At Mold Crown Court today, Murton was given a suspended sentence of eight months for breaching the Control of Asbestos Regulations. He was also given a 12 month suspended sentence for breaching Section 33 (1)(c) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and eight months suspended sentence for the offence contrary to Regulation 19 of the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005.

Mr Murton was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service and to pay costs of

http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2011/coi-se-0505.htm

Date:

5 May 2011

Release No:

COISE/0505

A Hertfordshire-based electrical company has been fined

A health & safety ‘passport’ for contractors visiting customers’ premises is being launched at Maintec in late March.

Developed to help contractors meet new requirements, the new passport was created by the UK’s leading authority in this field SPA (Safety Pass Alliance), whose courses have helped reduce accidents by as much as 75 per cent.

With more companies requiring proof that visiting workers have been trained in health & safety, contractors adopting the passport scheme will have the edge when pitching for contracts.

SPA managing director Ray Gibbs, whose Warwickshire-based company runs similar passport schemes for many major corporations, said a growing number of blue chip companies were using passports to help reduce accidents, costs and to improve efficiency in their companies.

Mr Gibbs said: “Most companies need contractors to visit their premises on a regular basis to carry out such vital work as repairs, maintenance, installation of new equipment and new buildings. Unfortunately, they can pose an unknown risk as it’s not always possible to check that they have been trained properly to an acceptable level of health & safety.

“This is where SPA comes in. Contract workers and company employees who complete our Sector training course can prove their knowledge of basic health & safety by showing their passport, which is similar to a driving licence, complete with a tamper-proof photograph to reduce fraud.

The course, which was first introduced two years ago and is currently being used by companies such as Balfour Beatty WorkPlace, Johnson Controls and Vinci Construction, is being re-launched with a new programme during Maintec at the NEC, Birmingham, between March 29 – 31.

SPA clients such as Nestle, whose 200 sites around the UK are visited each year by thousands of workers from 750 contractors, will only do business with those companies whose personnel carry the passports.

Nestle group found that the passport not only reduced costs – as it takes less time to conduct safety inductions – but had a dramatic effect on accident rates among visiting contractors, which reduced by almost 70 per cent over a two year period.

SPA’s course will ensure that all contractors have a thorough grounding in general health & safety, covering topics such as accidents, organising for safety, key health & safety requirements, risk assessment and potential hazards such as fire, electricity, plant & machinery, hand tools, and hazardous substances in addition to risks associated within a specific sector.

Details of the one-day training course can be obtained from Safety Pass Alliance (SPA),Unit 3, The Court, Holywell Business Park, Northfield Road, Southam, Warwickshire CV47 0FS Tel: (01926) 817450 or by visiting www.safetypassports.co.uk

Issued by Newsline PR. Tel: 01926 888308

February 2011

An international packing company put the lives of its workers at risk over several years at its West Yorkshire site, a court has been told.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) uncovered a long-term and systemic failure to ensure the safety of employees during the construction of wooden packing crates at the Holmfirth base of Neal Brothers Ltd, when it launched an investigation last year.

It resulted from a visit by an HSE Inspector to the site in Bent Ley Road, Meltham, Holmfirth. During the visit, he saw an employee working on the top of a large wooden crate, more than four metres high, with no safety measures to prevent falls.

Huddersfield Magistrates' Court heard that the company had been served with an enforcement notice back in 2004 demanding safety improvements for activities that required working at heights over two metres.

The firm had then introduced harnesses for employees when at high levels but the investigation showed their use had been short lived and the firm reverted to previous unsafe practices.

The HSE Inspector served a further enforcement notice on the company repeating the requirement to improve its system of working at height and began inquiries into its apparent history of safety failings. His evidence, gathered from staff and witnesses, showed harnesses had not been used since at least 2006.

Neal Brothers (Leicester) Ltd of Hastings Road, Leicester, admitted a charge of failing to ensure the safety of employees at its site in Holmfirth, over a four year period from April 2006. The company was fined