02/05/2025
The UK Government is considering some significant amendments to building regulations which will impact BWF Members and the wider woodworking and joinery manufacturing industry. A consultation of ...
A builder has been jailed for exposing workers to asbestos while working at a commercial unit on a Colwyn Bay industrial estate.
The builder, and three men working with him, were exposed to potentially deadly asbestos fibres while working in the unit at a Business Park around 11 September 2012.
Llandudno Magistrates’ Court heard last month how the builder, who had been employed by the owner of the premises to remove asbestos from the building prior to sale.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was alerted to the unlicensed work by a contractor who was licensed to remove asbestos.
HSE’s investigation found that the builder removed a significant quantity of asbestos insulating board (AIB) from the premises despite not holding a licence to work with such material.
He pleaded guilty to breaching the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, and was given a custodial sentence of 26 weeks.
Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Chris Wilcox said: “The safe removal of asbestos requires a high level of skill and technical knowledge and must be done by a contractor licenced by HSE.”
“Asbestos is the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK. There are specific rules in place to make sure it is dealt with safely and contractors have a duty to ensure they protect their workers from risk of exposure.
“By undertaking the uncontrolled removal of asbestos, work for which he was not licensed, the builder exposed himself and his co-workers to the risk of inhaling asbestos fibres.
“The outcome of this exposure cannot easily be assessed but there remains the possibility of ill health in the future. The workers could also have posed a health risk to others, including, for example, their families and loved ones, by taking home contaminated clothing.
“Those involved now have to live with the fear of becoming ill with this life-threatening lung disease.”
Tradespeople, including joiners and carpenters, could come into contact with deadly asbestos on average more than 100 times a year according to a recent survey commissioned by HSE.
On average, twenty tradespeople, including a large number of joiners, die every week from asbestos related diseases. HSE have launched an app for phones, tablets and laptops that helps tradespeople easily identify where they could come into contact with the deadly material as they go about their day-to-day work and gives them tailored help on how to deal with the risks. You can download the web app here: www.beware-asbestos.info/news and find more information on asbestos safety here: www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos.
The safety of your workers is of prime importance. The BWF's comprehensive 91 page Guide to Health and Safety in the woodworking industry includes guidance and we have prepared a number of resources to help you mitigate Health and Safety risk such as:
– A 12 point ‘Health and Safety: the essentials’ checklist to help prevent you getting caught out and advice on what HSE field inspectors are looking for in our Health and Safety publications.
– Our selection of woodworking machinery safety cards.
– Health and Safety training – including machine refresher training, Health & Safety management qualifications and more.
– As a member you can also ring our Health and Safety helpline on 0844 209 2610.
– Our Health & Safety Hero Campaign resources include short videos you can show to your staff, presentations you can adapt to your own company's health & safety processes and safety essential checklists you can give to each member of staff. There will be a new topic launched each month
