Two brothers have been jailed after they exposed workers to asbestos.
At least seven workers, one aged just 17 at the time, are known to have been exposed to asbestos during refurbishment work at a former print works since February 2012.
Neither Akram Hussain, 52, and Inam Hussain, 47, were qualified or experienced in construction, demolition or refurbishment work, nor were they licensed to remove asbestos.
Despite repeated visits from HSE inspectors and numerous enforcement notices warning them of their failings, the brothers continued to refurbish the building and disturb asbestos material – putting workers at risk.
A prohibition notice was issued on 17 February 2012, stopping all work with, or liable to disturb, asbestos. A ‘direction to leave undisturbed’ was also issued for the building until HSE had provided written confirmation that work could continue.
Several lorry-loads of waste contaminated with asbestos were removed from the site and taken to an unlicensed waste disposal site in Stoke-on-Trent.
Workers were also witnessed exiting the site covered in dust and not wearing the correct protective clothing.
A further prohibition notice and an improvement notice were served on Akram Hussain on 25 February 2012. A separate prohibition notice was served on Inam Hussain on 18 May 2012 for the non-licensed removal of asbestos from the building.
An asbestos survey was later carried out, but work inside the building continued to disturb materials containing asbestos.
The court heard that HSE is aware of at a least seven workers being exposed to asbestos in the building. Many more could have been exposed during the course of the refurbishment project.
Akram Hussain and Inam Hussain both pleaded guilty to safety breaches. Akram Hussain was given a custodial sentence of 22 months and was ordered to pay costs of £43,000. Inam Hussain was given a custodial sentence of 14 months.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Lindsay Hope, said: “The Hussains have shown a willful disregard for the health and safety of workers and others.
“Our investigation uncovered a catalogue of serious errors, safety failings and disregard of the laws around the safe and correct removal of asbestos.
“This was an appalling case of failing to properly plan, manage and resource this project, which led to workers being exposed to risks to their health from asbestos.”
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I presume this was a Notifiable project. So, what was the Client/CDM-C doing while all this nonsense was going on?
Where was the CPP and Asbestos Management Plan?
At what stage is repeated visits/intervention unacceptable to proceed?
They were not competent at the first instance of intervention?
This unmittigated fiasco was then allowed to continue for 3 months disturbing god knows how many cubic meter`s of ACM? which presumably then went to generic landfill and was not disposed of as a controlled waste.
And we wonder why the stat`s keep plodding onward?
Jail will not prevent ill health/premature death, stopping them may have?