The responsibility of contractors to protect people not in their employment from risks to their health and safety has been highlighted by a serious prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), against two firms and a company director. The case involved work carried out in 2003 at Southfield School in Kettering, where asbestos ceiling tiles were removed as part of work to upgrade the school's electrical system. During the work, asbestos was released into the air which posed a danger to workers and cleaners at the school. Pupils were not at risk as the work was undertaken during the summer holidays, however they were not able to return to school until the following Easter.
Briggs and Forrester (Electrical) Ltd were fined a total of £90,000 and B&W Asbestos Removal Specialists Ltd received a £40,000 penalty, with its Managing Director fined an additional £15,000. These substantial fines related to various offences under the:
The above asbestos legislation has since being revoked and replaced by the Control of Asbestos Regulations SI 2006/2739.
