Trusted asbestos company, Excavation and Contracting UK Ltd has been fined, along with two of its managers, after it forged documents in order to obtain an asbestos license from the Health and Safety Executive in order to trade.
Consequences for this type of act are extremely serious, and the company’s actions resulted in them being summed to Greater Manchester Magistrates Court.
The company at the heart of the case, Excavation and Contracting UK Ltd, forged both medical and asbestos training certificates between the 16 March 2012 and the 10 March 2010.
The documents were forged by the company’s operation manager, David Lloyd and it was also revealed that several medicals and training certificates had also been forced in the name of operations manager, Lee Cooper, and the managing director, Brendan O’Halloran.
The doctor who is alleged to have issued the forged medical documents is retired and now lives outside of the UK.
During the investigation, it was also brought to light that all defendants involved had also used the forged documents on order to obtain a license from HSE to trade, and the case revealed that the company had also failed to adequately train or monitor their workers.
HSE inspector Matt Greenly released a statement after the case stating: “Putting people at risk from asbestos by not training them or monitoring their health, as required by law, not only puts their lives at risk from an incurable set of diseases, but is also wholly unnecessary.
“There are ample affordable training providers and approved doctors who can carry out these functions at the convenience of the contractor. Taking deliberate shortcuts by creating forged documents will not be tolerated by HSE and we will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
The outcome of the case:
- David Lloyd, of Hanwell Close, Leigh pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 10(1)(a) and 22(1)(c) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, pay £100 in costs and was ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service.
- Lee Cooper, of Shelley Close, Huyton, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 10(1)(a) and 22(1)(c) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and was ordered to undertake 80 hours of community service and pay costs of £1,000.
- Excavation and Contracting (UK) Ltd of West Quay Road, Warrington, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 10(1)(a) and 22(1)(c) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and was fined £13,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,000.
Discuss your firm’s asbestos requirements with Salvum
Don’t hesitate to contact the Salvum team today, on 0343 886 5999, to request an asbestos survey that will help to ensure the users of your own organisation’s buildings are not put at risk.
