A company has been prosecuted for carrying out dangerous and unsafe asbestos removal work at a primary school in Dursley.

R F Gardiner Limited has been fined £28,000 with over £1,141 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Sections 8(1), 11(1) and 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

Cheltenham Magistrates Court heard how the contractor was carrying out refurbishment works at the school in October 2016 when it removed asbestos in an unsafe manner.

R F Gardiner did not have the appropriate licence to carry out the work, while operatives were exposed to high levels of airborne asbestos fibres during the removal work as no water suppression was used. In addition, the workers had not been face-fit tested for the face mask they were wearing.

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An enclosure under negative pressure was also not set up to contain the asbestos fibres released during the removal and as such, asbestos fibres were spread to the surrounding area. Workers also had no way of decontaminating onsite on completion of the work.

Overall, a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that poor planning of the work led to unsafe and unlicensed asbestos removal work being undertaken.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector James Lucas said: "The company in this case should have ensured appropriate measures were identified during the planning process to include the engagement of a licensed asbestos contractor to carry out correct control measures and safe working practices for the removal of the asbestos.

"Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards."

(LM)