A Wimbledon construction firm has been prosecuted for endangering workers and the public with unsafe demolition work.

AA Construction (London) Ltd failed to properly plan the work at Quintin Avenue, near Wimbledon Chase tube station, in early February 2011.

Local residents raised concerns that asbestos materials were being smashed up and littering the site, that debris was dropping from height onto the road and footpath; and that the site was insecure despite its close proximity to a local school.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was notified and served three enforcement notices relating to unsafe practices that forced the site to be closed until urgent improvements were made.

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Westminster Magistrates' Court heard that the HSE investigation found that numerous precautions could and should have been taken to make the site safe.

The company should have carried out an asbestos survey and produced a health and safety plan and a plan of demolition to ensure the buildings came down in a safe manner. Safe working platforms such as scaffolding could also have been used to prevent people and material from falling or dropping, or buildings could have been demolished remotely. Asbestos should have been removed intact to prevent the release of fibres, segregated and correctly disposed of, and debris should have been progressively cleared allowing for safe access around the site.

AA Construction also employed inexperienced labourers to carry out demolition and asbestos removal, and did not give them sufficient instruction, training, or supervision.

The company, of High Street, Wealdstone, Harrow, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £36,000 plus a £15 surcharge and with £9159 in costs.

(CD)