Asbestos exposure: local authority fined
Health and Safety Executive v Kent County Council (2018) Canterbury Crown Court, August 32
Statutory reference: regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR)
Kent County Council has been fined after asbestos was disturbed at a primary school
The facts
In November 2014 an environmental health officer was carrying out a routine food inspection at Lansdowne Primary School.
It was noticed that what appeared to be an asbestos rope was hanging from a ceiling.
A prohibition notice was served on the educational trust responsible for the school. An investigation found that the asbestos rope and a flue were disturbed when the school was controlled by Kent County Council.
The flue and rope were attached to a steriliser unit which had been removed by a caretaker. Neither the caretaker nor the head teacher had any asbestos management or awareness training.
The local authority had failed to effectively prevent exposure and failed to provide suitable training to those liable to be exposed to asbestos.
The decision
Kent County Council was fined £200,000 plus £21,000 costs under regulation 10 of CAR.