City fined £14,000 over asbestos risks

Published on Thursday 12 November 2009 08:34

COUNCIL bosses hit by a £14,000 fine for putting workers at risk of exposure to asbestos today said they were confident it would not happen again after tightening up safety procedures.

Edinburgh City Council was yesterday fined after admitting putting 14 of its workers at risk of exposure to the substance.

The workers, including joiners, had been instructed to remove laboratory doors from Castlebrae Community High School in April 2007, and carry out alterations at the council's workshop on Murrayburn Road.

The work involved cutting the doors, which disturbed the asbestos core inside. Workmen were given no indication that there could be asbestos present.

This is the second time this year the council has had to pay out over the work at the school, having been hit with a 17,600 fine in February after admitting a series of failures over unqualified workmen who were sent in to remove the toxic material.

The council pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday to breaching the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.

The court was told that the council had failed to keep accurate records of the location and condition of asbestos and did not have suitable procedures in place to inform those working on or near the substance that it was there.

Councillor Phil Wheeler, city finance convener, said the authority had since changed its procedures.

He said: "This council has had robust procedures in place for dealing with asbestos for a very long time – we take it very seriously so are very disappointed that this happened in 2007.

"Since the incident, we have further strengthened our procedures for dealing with hazardous materials."

Following the court hearing, Health and Safety Executive inspector Mike Orr said: "The council should have been well aware of its responsibilities. Its failings are clear.

"This case should serve as a warning to property owners or those who manage buildings to ensure they have robust arrangements in place to manage the risks from asbestos."

The council was also fined 7,500 in 2002 after asbestos was found in Parsons Green Primary in Duddingston. The school was forced to close temporarily.