Asbestos warning after electrical contractor fine

Electrical contractors and refurbishment specialists must improve their training of workers over the dangers posed by asbestos.

The warning from the Health and Safety Executive follows the prosecution of Scriven Electrical Contractors of West Bromwich for failing to ensure that adequate information, instruction and training was given to its employees.

An electrician employed by Scriven removed ceiling tiles containing up to 50% brown asbestos during cabling work on a site in Smethwick. He had received no training on how to deal with the deadly material.

Scriven was fined £3,000 by West Bromwich Magistrates following the incident.

HSE inspector John Healy said: “Scrivens should have known of the dangers and the legal requirement to give sufficient training to protect employees from exposure to asbestos because 98% of their work involves the risk of encountering asbestos.

“Those responsible for employees ordinarily have a legal duty to protect their health and safety but, in the case of asbestos those involved in building or refurbishment must know that any disturbance of such a dangerous material should only be completed by trained workers.”