Council hit with fine
Added (2009-Feb-09)
A council has been fined £17,005 after a school caretaker was exposed to asbestos more than 100 times the safe level.
North Tyneside Council was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and also made to pay £3,911 in costs, Journal Live reports.
It pleaded guilty to five breaches of asbestos regulations at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court, following incidents at Wallsend Jubilee School in March 2006.
The school's boilerhouse was quarantined for asbestos six months before caretaker Richard Brand discovered he had been exposed.
No warnings were put up and no asbestos risk management programme was implemented.
HSE inspector Dr Stephen Britton said employers must make sure asbestos is managed properly and staff are warned.
North Tyneside Council chief executive Andrew Kerr said the body recognised its responsibility and had worked closely with the HSE since the incident.
Asbestos regulations are enforced by the HSE's Field Operations Directorate, Hazardous Installations Directorate and Offshore Division.
Each office has operational, specialist and occupational hygiene inspectors as well as administrative staff.
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