Directors breach prohibition notice exposing workers to asbestos

Last Updated on May 20, 2024 by

Alsager Contractors Ltd prosecuted for exposing workers to asbestos

Three directors of a now liquidated waste management company have been prosecuted for potentially exposing workers to asbestos.

George Talbot and his sons, Anthony and Stephen, directors of Alsager Contractors Ltd, were sentenced following a joint two year investigation.

The HSE and the Environment Agency (EA) investigated the company’s working practices at two sites in Newcastle-Under-Lyme and one in Lancashire.

Investigators found evidence all three defendants knew of waste containing asbestos being kept or disposed of at one site in a manner likely to cause pollution or harm to human health from June 2011.

There was also evidence of waste containing asbestos being deposited in a trailer at the Lancashire site without an environmental permit from June 2011.

It was also found that George and Anthony Talbot knew of waste containing asbestos being deposited at one of the sites from February 2011.

In May 2012, HSE served a prohibition notice on the company to prohibit work on six ejector trailers that contained or were contaminated with asbestos.

However, in February 2013, it was identified by an Environment Agency officer that a door had been cut into a trailer to enable access to the asbestos waste.

This was in contravention of the notice that had been served.

blank

 

Directors finally prosecuted in court

George Talbot and Anthony Talbot each pleaded guilty to breaching section 22 of the Health and Safety at work etc Act 1974.

George, Anthony and Stephen Talbot pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 33(1)C, 33(6) and 157(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Regulations 12(1), 38(1) and 41(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010.

Mr George Talbot was disqualified as a director for a period of seven years and given a total fine of £46.500.

Anthony Talbot was disqualified as a director for a period of four years and was given a total fine of £4,800.

Stephen Talbot was fined a total of £6,000.

The three defendants were also ordered to repay costs of £200,000 in total.

HSE Inspector, David Brassington said, “This was an appalling breach of a prohibition notice which potentially exposed workers to asbestos.”

“Companies should know HSE will not hesitate to take enforcement against those who flout the law.”

Did you enjoy reading about Directors breach prohibition notice exposing workers to asbestos?  Then check out our other posts below.

Whether you need an asbestos management survey, or a refurbishment/demolition survey, contact us on 0161 763 3727 or by visiting https://www.armco.org.uk/

Finally, for all your asbestos training needs call 0161 761 4424 or visit https://www.armcoasbestostraining.co.uk/to book an asbestos awareness training course.

Latest News...
September 26, 2025Last Updated on October 6, 2025 by Phil Collins COVID changed a lot about workplace safety. Suddenly, everyone was talking about masks, air quality and respiratory protection (even though Face Fit Testing has actually been a legal requirement since the late 90’s). Three years on and companies are still catching up with what this means […] [...] Read more...
September 10, 2025Last Updated on October 6, 2025 by Phil Collins Non-licensed asbestos training (which used to be referred to as Cat B training) is one of the many types of asbestos training courses that we provide at Armco, and it is designed for individuals, businesses and contractors who will knowingly disturb asbestos as part of their […] [...] Read more...
August 13, 2025Last Updated on August 27, 2025 by Phil Collins If you are looking for asbestos training, you have probably got questions about what is available and what you actually need. At Armco Asbestos Training we have been helping people get the right training for years, and we also know it can seem a bit overwhelming […] [...] Read more...
July 22, 2025Last Updated on July 22, 2025 by Phil Collins If you work in construction, property management or own a building constructed before 2000, you need to understand your legal duties regarding asbestos. Despite being banned in 1999, asbestos still kills around 5,000 people every year in the UK. The law is clear about who is […] [...] Read more...
July 11, 2025Last Updated on July 11, 2025 by Phil Collins If you work in construction, maintenance or any trade that involves older buildings in the UK, chances are you need asbestos awareness training. The problem is, lots of people do not realise this until it is too late. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 are clear […] [...] Read more...
June 20, 2025Last Updated on June 24, 2025 by Phil Collins Asbestos has been banned in England since 1999, yet it remains responsible for approximately 5,000 deaths each year. Workplace misconceptions continue to put people at risk. Here are three persistent myths that need addressing… The Minimal Exposure Myth People often dismiss quick contact with asbestos as […] [...] Read more...

Published Sep 17, 2018