Newcastle upon Tyne based furniture manufacturing company now in administration sentenced for failing to prevent exposure to asbestos at its Killingworth factory.
North Tyneside Magistrates heard how the company failed to introduce an adequate management plan or carry out remedial work to prevent potential exposure to asbestos fibres following an asbestos survey conducted in 2003. In 2017, 14 years after the survey was completed, an employee raised a concern to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The HSE investigation found the company had failed to take measures necessary to protect employees from exposure to asbestos, a commonly known carcinogenic. In addition, it was discovered that maintenance workers were also not made aware of the location of the asbestos to ensure they didn’t disturb it.
Godfrey-Syrett Limited, who are now in administration, would have faced fines around £800,000 for breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and regulation 4(8) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, however due to the circumstance of the company this was reduced to £1.
HSE Inspector Ashfaq Ali said “Asbestos remains in many buildings where people work. If it is managed and in good condition, there is nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, the company didn’t do what the law required and the asbestos in the building was not managed or maintained. This is a real risk and a clear breach of the law which required HSE to prosecute even though the company is in administration.”
The full HSE statement can be found here
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