A machining manufacturer has been prosecuted for serious asbestos safety failings.

Birmingham Specialities Ltd of Moor Lane, Birmingham, has been fined £20,000 with over £2,454 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Birmingham Magistrates' Court heard how company workers were asked to remove the internal wall by their manager. There was no asbestos survey or an up to date asbestos management plan for the premises.

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A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that asbestos insulation sheets were removed unsafely without proper precautions and by unlicensed individuals from the company without any safeguards in place to prevent the spread of the asbestos fibres.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Tariq Khan, said: "Asbestos in buildings needs to be managed or removed by competent contractors.

"Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working.

"The company needed to follow the proper procedures by carrying out an asbestos survey and formulating an asbestos management plan as well as training those responsible for managing asbestos."

(LM/CM)