Property management firm exposes workers to asbestos

MA Estates Limited in Holmfield, Halifax has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive for exposing workers to asbestos.

The workers were replacing a roof on a building in Holdsfield Road in 2007. 15 people in total were tasked with stripping materials from the support beams which contained asbestos in limpet/spray form. The HSE found out about the asbestos when a local business complained.

No asbestos survey was organized by MA Estates before the work was carried out. There was also no risk assessment done, no license issued to work with asbestos, and the workers were unaware and untrained to handle such materials.

HSE inspector, Rachel Brittain, said:

"The dangers of asbestos should never be underestimated and are well known in the property industry and beyond. For a company to put workers at this level of risk shows a total disregard for their safety and welfare.

I can't stress enough how important it is for anyone carrying out building work to obtain the proper asbestos surveys and then act upon them."

MA Estates pleaded guilty to seven charges and received a fine of £30,100 plus costs of £2,475.40.

Source: HSE