Asbestos firm given £18,000 fine
Construction
21st October 2008
An asbestos surveying company has been fined £18,000 after it failed to identify the presence of the potentially deadly substance in two schools.
Normandie Analytical Services was handed the penalty and ordered to pay costs of £21,000 after it failed to spot asbestos which was later found by construction workers.
Steve Lewis, an inspector for the Health and Safety Executive, said asbestos is present in many buildings across the UK and is not dangerous unless it is disturbed.
He added: "This case demonstrates a repeated failure by this company to carry out systematic and comprehensive checks for asbestos."
Mr Lewis also said the company "did not have appropriate quality control checks in place", which resulted in the asbestos being disturbed by the builders.
Companies can protect themselves against expenses arising from litigation by ensuring proper quality control checks are implemented and by taking out an adequate liability insurance policy.
