A Cardiff company who were commissioned to undertake an asbestos survey of an old cinema have been ordered to pay a total of £8, 000 for failing to identify asbestos which resulted in workers being exposed to asbestos fibres.

Last Updated on March 13, 2012 by

A Cardiff company has been ordered to pay a total of £8, 000 after failing to identify the presence of asbestos which resulted in putting the health of demolition workers at risk. Between 15 and 25 January 2010, PHH Environmental (UK) Ltd was commissioned to produce an asbestos survey on the soon to be demolished Old Castle Cinema in Merthyr Tydfil. Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court heard that PHH’s client commissioned a survey to assist its demolition company plan the work but once demolition was underway, workers discovered and disturbed further asbestos which had not been identified in the survey.

PHH Environmental (UK) Limited, of Titan House, Cardiff Bay Business Centre, Lewis Road, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was today fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,000. HSE inspector Steve Richardson investigated the case and stated that  “Anyone carrying out refurbishment or demolition work relies upon accurate asbestos surveys to reduce the risk of them being exposed to deadly asbestos fibres. It is essential that those surveys are comprehensive, intrusive and undertaken by competent persons – if not lives are needlessly put at risk.”

Here at Armco we offer various services to ensure that companies operate within the asbestos law and protect staff, customers and the public from asbestos exposure. All our surveyors have over 15 years industry experience and therefore we are confident that any survey undertaken would include the identification of all asbestos.

In addition to surveying all types of properties we offer various training courses, for example Asbestos Awareness which ensures those whom regularly come into contact with asbestos are aware and know the correct procedures to follow.  We also provide a Respiratory Mask Face Fitting Service to protect from the inhalation of hazardous materials. Please navigate this site for further information on training and contact the office on 0161 763 3727 for further information on the various types of surveys we offer and remedial asbestos work we undertake.

Published Mar 13, 2012