A Tyrone tyre company has been fined £6,000 plus costs of £960 for failing to protect employees from exposure to asbestos.
The case arose from a Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) investigation into an incident in November 2013 when EKS Tyres (NI) Limited installed a new fire alarm system at its premises on Moneymore Road, Cookstown.
HSENI’s investigation found that there was no asbestos management plan for the premises, and as a result information on the location, type and condition of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) was not available.
Employees of EKS Tyres (NI) Limited who were working in the area at the time of the installation work were likely to have been exposed to asbestos.
Speaking after the hearing at Dungannon Crown Court, Anne Boylan, an inspector with HSENI’s Major Investigation Team said, “As a result of failings by EKS Tyres (NI) Limited workers were needlessly exposed to asbestos.
“This incident could have easily been avoided if information on the presence of asbestos in the building had been provided by EKS Tyres (NI) Limited, the owners of the premises.
“This is inexcusable, as the risks from asbestos are well known – as are the controls required in managing these risks. Exposure to asbestos can cause fatal or serious long-term health conditions and therefore every precaution must be taken to minimise these risks.”
Any building constructed before the year 2000 can potentially contain asbestos. Tradespeople, such as electricians, plumbers and joiners and anyone who works on the fabric of a building, and who could potentially disturb asbestos, are most at risk of exposure.
Those in control of non-domestic premises have a duty to locate and identify all asbestos containing materials and manage their condition. This information should be contained in an asbestos management plan and should be passed on to anyone who is likely to work on the fabric of the building.