Firms fined £220,000 for exposing staff to asbestos

Two firms have been fined more than £220,000 for exposing employees to deadly asbestos.

R Maskell of Loughton, Essex, and LCH Contracts of Great Burstead, Billericay, Essex, were busted for health and safety offences during work at St Francis Tower in Ipswich.

Between 15 August and 27 September 2005, developer R Maskell was refurbishing the building when it found asbestos and contracted in LCH Contracts to remove the material.

An inspection by the Health and Safety Executive on 27 September 2005 uncovered debris in black sacks on most floors of the 15-storey building.

Work was stopped when some of the sacks were found to contain asbestos containing materials.

A subsequent investigation found asbestos insulation board was removed without using the recommended wet strip technique, which wets the product to prevent fibre release.

R Maskell was fined £150,000 and ordered to pay £30,000 in costs at Ipswich Crown Court while LCH Contracts was fined £70,000 and ordered to pay costs of £13,821.

Both firms pleaded guilty to the charges.