The impact of exposure to asbestos is not just long-term health, it will cost your business too.  Exposure to asbestos is the greatest cause of work-related deaths in Great Britain. If disturbed, harmful fibres are released into the air and can cause fatal diseases when inhaled. Symptoms typically take decades to develop and there is no cure. Below are several prosecutions of businesses and self-employed trades who have failed to comply with law. As well as being fined and receiving negative publicity, people and communities have been affected by the harm caused. Make sure you have the correct controls in place to protect yourself and others. Find out more about HSEâs campaigns Help raise awareness of guidance and resources. Asbestos and You: for tradespeople to know what to watch for, and what to do should you come across asbestos Asbestos â Your Duty: for those responsible for maintenance and repair of non-domestic buildings A builder has been fined after carrying out unlicensed asbestos removal work at a house being renovated. Despite being warned by the customer that asbestos was potentially present in the fascia boards, the builder proceeded to remove the asbestos-containing materials. Â
Â
This type of work should only be undertaken by a licensed asbestos contractor with appropriate safety controls in place. Â
Â
He was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order with 180 hours Unpaid Work and ordered to pay £2,000 in costs. Â
Â
Read our full press release here. A self-employed roofing contractor has been ordered to undertake unpaid work after the uncontrolled spread of asbestos in a back garden. The spread of asbestos in the garden put two young workers and local residents at risk. HSE began an investigation after a local resident raised concerns about debris that had fallen into their garden during the work. Analysis confirmed the debris contained chrysotile asbestos. Watch the doorbell-cam footage and read the full article. A self-employed builder has been told to complete 200 hours unpaid work after a man fell more than 13 feet through a barn roof on his first day on the job. His horrific injuries included a brain haemorrhage as well as multiple fracturs including to his skull, the sternum, the spine and the shoulder. An investigation by HSE found that as well as failing to consider the work at height, the roof in question also contained asbestos fibres. Read our press release full details. | 