A builder has been jailed for 26 weeks after exposing workers to asbestos while working on an industrial site in Colwyn Bay.

Brian Roberts of 123 Bryniau Road, Llandudno and three other men were exposed to asbestos fibres while working in the unit at Eagle Farm Road, Mochdre Business Park around 11 September 2012.

Mr Roberts had been employed by the owner of the premises at the time to remove asbestos from the building prior to sale.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was alerted by a contractor who was licensed to remove asbestos.

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A HSE investigation discovered the builder had removed a significant quantity of the material despite not holding a license to remove asbestos.

Mr Roberts pleaded guilty to breaching the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 at Llandudno Magistrates Court on 12 June.

He was given a custodial sentence of 26 weeks.

HSE Inspector Chris Wilcox said: "The safe removal of asbestos requires a high level of skill and technical knowledge and must be done by a contractor licenced by HSE.

"By undertaking the uncontrolled removal of asbestos, work for which he was not licensed, Brian Roberts exposed himself and his co-workers to the risk of inhaling asbestos fibres.

"The outcome of this exposure cannot easily be assessed but there remains the possibility of ill health in the future. The workers could also have posed a health risk to others, including, for example, their families and loved ones, by taking home contaminated clothing."

(LM)