A series of asbestos related Health and Safety breeches, including failure to ensure staff to be adequately trained, have lead prosecutions by the HSE resulting in large fines

Last Updated on March 1, 2022 by Dan

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have ring fenced various professions whom are likely to come into contact with asbestos and state under Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 must receive Asbestos Awareness training.

Birmingham Glass Services Ltd are another example of companies that have recently fallen short of this law and have been prosecuted for failure to ensure their staff have received adequate Asbestos Awareness training. In addition, the company have been jointly prosecuted and fined alongside Equitas Academies Trust for failing to properly manage refurbishment works and exposing workers to asbestos.

Birmingham Magistrates’ Court heard that Equitas Academies Trust undertook a project in the spring and summer of 2012 to replace old windows at the academy. The school appointed Birmingham Glass Services Ltd (BGS) to do the work, having previously used the company for other projects.  The court was told that four BGS workers attended the site, but did not receive an induction by any employee of Equitas Academies Trust, were not provided with specialist protective equipment, nor was any information provided to the glass company’s employees on the location of any asbestos containing materials.

Birmingham Glass Services Ltd was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,969 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 while Equitas Academies Trust, of Phillips Street, Aston, Birmingham, was fined £7,500 with £3,000 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Armco have 20 years of experience in providing asbestos related consultancy and advice, surveying, training and now the provision and maintenance of personal and respiratory protective equipment. Call the Armco office for further details and a competitive quote on 0161 761 4424.

Published Dec 20, 2013