TWO firms have been fined a total of more than £200,000 for failing to comply with health and safety measures relating to the removal of asbestos.
TWO firms have been fined a total of more than £200,000 for failing to comply with health and safety measures relating to the removal of asbestos.
Developers R Maskell Ltd and asbestos removal specialists LCH Contracts Ltd were sentenced today for work carried out at St Francis Tower, in Franciscan Way, Ipswich.
Judge Neil McKittrick heard how inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited the town centre site and found between six and seven Lithuanian workers stripping asbestos from the 15 storey building without the correct safety or disposal methods in place.
He fined R Maskell Ltd £100,000 for failing to ensure the health and welfare of employees at work and £50,000 for failing to comply with fire safety regulations.
LCH Contracts Ltd - who were employed by Maskell Ltd to remove the asbestos once they realised the potentially deadly substance was present - were fined £50,000 for failing to reduce the spread of asbestos to those working there and £20,000 for failing to stick to its designated plan when carrying out the removal.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here