A major British retailer has been fined £1 million and ordered to pay costs of £600,000 after an investigation revealed it jeopardised the personal safety of construction workers, shoppers and staff by placing them at risk of exposure to asbestos while two stores were being revamped.
Three contractors were also fined at a hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on Tuesday, with one contractor currently planning to appeal against the conviction.
Judge Christopher Harvey Clark QC reportedly criticised the high-street giant during sentencing for turning a “blind eye” to ensuring the relevant health and safety guidelines concerning the safe removal of asbestos-containing materials were properly observed.
The company was found guilty of breaching section 2(1) and section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 during a three-month trial that ended in July on this year before learning its fate earlier this week.
Richard Boland, from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), commented: “This outcome should act as a wake-up call that any refurbishment programmes involving asbestos-containing materials must be properly resourced, both in terms of time and money - no matter what.
“Large retailers and other organisations who carry out major refurbishment works must give contractors enough time and space within the store to carry out the works safely. Where this is not done, and construction workers and the public are put at risk, HSE will not hesitate in taking robust enforcement action.”
A statement from the retailer on the BBC website read: “We are very disappointed with the result of this case, as we believe that we have always acted responsibly and with a safety-first attitude.
“The health and safety of our employees, customers and contractors is of the utmost importance to us. We hope to continue to work closely with the HSE in the future to ensure that strict regulations and safety standards relating to asbestos are maintained.”
According to figures made public by the HSE, asbestos is the largest single cause for work-related fatalities in the UK. An estimated 4,000 people die as a result of exposure to asbestos annually, with many of the cases leading to compensation claims.
The dangers associated with coming into contact with asbestos have been much publicised for years as it is a carcinogen, which is a substance that can lead to serious health problems and in some cases cause cancer. Only this week it was reported by the BBC that £92,000 had been awarded in compensation to the family of a man who died earlier this year after being exposed to asbestos in the workplace between 1947 and 1950.
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