A company that managed Ministry of Defence property at Arncott in Bicester has been handed a £33,000 fine for potentially exposing MOD workers to deadly asbestos fibres.
Interserve Ltd, of Waterloo Road, London, appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday, September 8, after an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The firm, a subsidiary of one of the world’s largest support service and construction companies, began managing a large storage property at the site in May 2005.
An asbestos survey undertaken in the boiler room at the base that year found that the whole room was considered to be contaminated with asbestos and it was recommended that access to the room should be restricted until it was removed. But the court heard that Interserve failed to follow the advice of the survey and consequently workers were left at risk of exposure to the asbestos fibres for over a year. More than 30 members of staff came into contact with the asbestos during this time.
The company pleaded guilty to three counts of contravening Control of Asbestos Regulations between May 2005 and September 2006 at a previous hearing on June 11, at Banbury Magistrtaes’ Court. Judge Mr Recorder Prior handed down the fine of £33,000 to the firm, which was also ordered to pay costs of £17,936.
HSE Inspector for Oxfordshire, Matthew Lee, said: “Around 4,000 people die each year from past exposure to asbestos and the material may be present in any building built before the year 2000. It is therefore essential that duty holders and facilities managers are aware of the risk it still poses and their responsibilities in managing it. Facilities managers are key to ensuring that effective management systems are in place to protect workers and to ensure that duty holders meet their legal responsibilities.”
