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Contractor taped plastic bags around exposed asbestos
Engineering firm Wall Colmonoy Ltd had contracted Oaktree
Construction to renovate a building opposite its premises in
Pontardawe, Swansea, in December 2010.
The engineering firm had two asbestos management surveys for the
site which identified the presence of the material.
Despite this, work was allowed to begin in the building, even
though Oaktree had been advised by the HSE that a separate
'Refurbishment and Demolition Survey' was also required before any
activity commenced.
During the demolition works an asbestos insulation board
covering a steel column was damaged.
A Wall Colmonoy employee was told to tape plastic bags around it
while work continued for several months with the board debris left
on the floor until an unannounced visit was carried out by an HSE
inspector.
A subsequent HSE investigation found that Wall Colmonoy failed
to appoint a competent Construction, Design and Management
co-ordinator and principal contractor to plan and manage the
construction work.
The firm also ignored advice from its own health and safety
manager to notify HSE of the demolition phase of the project, as is
required by law.
Wall Colmonoy also failed to provide a proper assessment of the
presence of asbestos and no-one involved in the management of the
project had the skills, training or experience to address health
and safety issues.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector, Anne Marie Orrells
said: "Both companies involved in this case demonstrated
significant failings throughout the management of the project,
which put the lives of their respective workers at risk.
"Had a Refurbishment and Demolition survey been undertaken, and
had a licensed asbestos contractor been used to removal all
asbestos materials prior to the work starting, then the risk would
have been eliminated.
"Instead this inadequate response left workers exposed to
asbestos fibres, which can cause potentially fatal lung disease.
The health and safety of workers must not be left to chance."
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