Risks 15th March 2008 reported that Kings College, Cambridge, has been prosecuted after painters were exposed to asbestos containing materials while working at the college. It was fined £16,000 with £14,500 costs at Cambridge Magistrates Court last week after pleading guilty to eight breaches of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006. The college clerk of works Geoff Cunnington was also was fined £1,000 with £500 costs after pleading guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act.
The prosecution arose following an incident on 29 November 2006, when a number of college employees, who were painting asbestos containing material, were exposed to asbestos fibres. A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Kings College had allowed its employees to work on asbestos containing materials without taking the appropriate precautions.
HSE principal inspector David Head commented: 'The exposure of employees to asbestos at Kings College could and should have been avoided by straightforward safety precautions. HSE will not hesitate to take action against those who fall short of the law in such a way.' He added: 'Asbestos must be properly managed to prevent people dying from asbestos diseases in the future. If you are responsible for managing the maintenance and repair of a building, you must manage any asbestos in it. HSE has provided guidance to help people understand what they have to do to comply with their legal obligations.'
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