A company and a contractor have both been prosecuted for serious safety failings following the removal of asbestos at three blocks of flats in London.

Squaredeal UPVC & Renewables Limited, of Rustington, West Sussex, pleaded guilty to offences under Regulations 5, 8(1) and 11(1) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. It has been fined £18,500 with over £5,607 in costs.

Wildheart Residential Management Ltd, of Ewell, Epsom, Surrey, has been fined £8,000 with £3,000 in costs after pleading guilty to an offence under Regulation 4(3) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard how Squaredeal had been contracted by Wildheart to replace soffits on three flat blocks at a housing estate at Sutton Grove, Sutton in July 2016.

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However, a resident raised concerns over replacement work carried out on the guttering of the properties, prompting a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation.

HSE found that Wildheart instructed Squaredeal to carry out the work, but failed to check whether the soffits contained asbestos. Squaredeal had the soffits analysed and became aware they contained asbestos but started to remove the soffits without adequate precautions to ensure workers and residents were protected.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Fu Lee said: "The work risked not only the workers, but also the residents of the flats being exposed to disturbed asbestos. Exposure to asbestos can lead to a number of diseases, including asbestosis or fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs; lung cancer and mesothelioma. These diseases are irreversible, disabling and in most cases eventually fatal.

"The latest statistics show that asbestos related disease cause approximately 3000 deaths a year. All asbestos-related diseases typically take many years to develop after exposure.

"This incident could have been avoided if the companies had taken appropriate action to identify the type of asbestos and engage an appropriately qualified contractor to carry out the work safely."

(LM/MH)