News and Knowledge

Ford car factory closed after asbestos discovery

A Ford car factory has been forced to close after banned asbestos was found in sections of the building.   In a letter to customers, Ford – the UK’s second largest car brand, warned that a “small percentage” of chrysotile, commonly known as white asbestos, was detected in cement at one of its UK locations.  …

Companies fined after 16 year old exposed to asbestos at work

Two companies have been fined after a teenager was exposed to asbestos at work.   The 16-year-old had been working for P Turnbull Joinery and Building Services Ltd on an outbuilding of a domestic property after the firm had been hired by Alt Berg Holding Limited to refurbish the property in Richmond, North Yorkshire.  …

Director fined after hotel demolition exposes workers to asbestos

A company director has been fined after workers were exposed to asbestos during the demolition of a hotel in Cornwall.   Mr. Paul Stephens, director of the now-liquidated Stephens and Stephens Developers Limited, was fined more than £60,000 as a result of failures at the former Cliffdene Hotel in Newquay in 2020. The hotel had closed in 2018 and…

Company fined after director knowingly exposed workers to asbestos

Workers at a building supply store in Manchester were knowingly exposed to more than 100 square metres of asbestos after the company director failed to have it removed safely.   HSE attended the premises on Talbot Road in April 2019 after concerns were initially raised over workers unsafely working at height during the demolition of…

Calls for government to change asbestos safety regulations

The government has been urged to take further action to prevent more people from dying from asbestos exposure – 25 years after the deadly material was banned in the UK.   Figures show that despite a ban being in place for more than two decades, thousands of people are still dying from asbestos-related causes every…

Royal Marines to sue Ministry of Defence for asbestos exposure 

Current and former Royal Marine Commandos are taking the Ministry of Defence to court after claiming they were exposed to asbestos whilst training in Latvia.   Edward Hill, an ex-marine engineer and vehicle mechanic claims their bosses breached their rights by making them sleep in a garage that allegedly contained the banned substance.    …

HSBC pays out £900,000 to former employee for asbestos exposure

A former HSBC employee who developed an asbestos-related cancer after being exposed at one of the bank’s branches has received a £900,000 payout.   The former employee learnt she has mesothelioma when she had a chest X-ray following a car crash. After the accident, it was then linked to asbestos exposure while working as a…

BT worker died after being exposed to asbestos on a daily basis, coroner rules

A telecoms engineer who worked for BT died after being exposed to asbestos on a ‘day-to-day’ basis, a coroner has ruled.   Ian Stubbs, of Hawkes Lane in Bracon Ash, near Norwich, was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in 2021 after experiencing a long-term cough and shortness of breath. A personal statement, which he wrote before his…

Woman dies from asbestos-related disease 60 years after exposure

A woman from Shrewsbury died of a lung disease caused by asbestos, 60 years after working at a plumbing firm, a coroner has concluded.   Collette Jennifer Breeze, 76 worked in the office of her father’s plumbing business for one year when she was 16.     But she did not stay with the business,…

Asbestos in schools – fears for 1,000 British schools after increasing number of teacher deaths

A new report has expressed ‘extreme concern’ as up to 1,000 schools could contain asbestos in the UK.   A report, published by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has revealed that 700,000 pupils are learning in ‘unsafe’ schools that need major rebuilding or refurbishment.     The report has criticised the school estate, adding that…