A building contractor has been sentenced after its workers were exposed to potentially deadly asbestos fibres during refurbishment work at premises in Swansea.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted J C Irvine Limited following an investigation which revealed that work on the refurbishment of the former Ace Electrics building in The Strand was being carried out without an asbestos survey.

Swansea Magistrates heard that, between the dates of 27 April 2010 and 12 May 2010, asbestos containing materials were disturbed by construction workers employed by the defendant, releasing asbestos fibres into the air.

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The HSE was informed that employees were carrying out work in a contaminated building, and inspectors visiting the site on 12 May 2010 served an immediate Prohibition Notice.

The subsequent investigation found that J C Irvine Limited failed to ensure that the refurbishment work was planned in such a way as to reduce the risk to health and safety. It also failed to ensure that its employees were not exposed to asbestos fibres.

J C Irvine Limited of Oldway, Bishopston, Swansea pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 23(1)(a) of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007 and Regulation 5 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006. It was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £2,148.50.

(CD/GK)