Coventry Council slammed for asbestos exposure risk

Coventry City Council (CCC) has been given a roasting for exposing contractors to undetected asbestos during Butterley Construction's £7.5m refurbishment of the city's Museum of British Transport.
The Scrutiny Co-ordination Group report reveals that an apparent lack of communication between council members, a failure to follow internal health and safety procedures and poorly kept asbestos information put workers at risk and led to an asbestos clean-up bill that has so far risen from £72,000 to £476,800.
The report found that CCC had not fully maintained an asbestos register of the building and that it was not clear during the last few months of 2003 and early 2004 if all contractors were prepared for the quantity of asbestos to
be removed.
The group also raised concerns over the lack of early asbestos detection despite common knowledge that asbestos had been used in the building following a fire in the 1960s.
The first recorded asbestos incident happened in April 2003 when subcontractor Kitsons had to stop work installing 12 heating units after unco-ordinated work to the front of the museum disturbed asbestos, which had been sealed and left in situ.
Work was also hampered on the museum's roof at the end of December 2003 after workers discovered asbestos had spread, due to the deterioration of the structure, and had contaminated the first floor of the building.
Other parts of the museum became contaminated after various outer walls were removed in readiness for the new front to the museum.
Asbestos had also passed through what was thought to be a sealed wall into other parts of the museum.
Events have led to the Health & Safety Executive being called in to supervise work.
Contractors have also been asked to guard the museum at night to ensure nobody breaks into the building and becomes contaminated.
One project source told CJ: "On one part of the job we had half a dozen electricians drill straight into asbestos. Work had to be stopped and had to be examined by insurers in
case there are any future claims."
In response to the report, CCC has initiated an Asbestos Management Plan to create a comprehensive database to record all relevant information of asbestos within the council's property and raise asbestos awareness through education.