Contractor sentenced after asbestos toilet blunder

Grant Prior 3 years ago
Share

A contractor has been handed 100 hours community service and ten days Rehabilitation Activity after labourers disturbed asbestos and worked dangerously at height while refurbishing a disused park toilet block.

Southwark Crown Court heard how, in 2019, a charity hired a local contractor, Fahadh Rasheed, to convert a toilet block in Valentines Park, Ilford, into a community meeting centre. The work included replacing the weather-damaged roof.

Rasheed employed unskilled and untrained labourers to undertake this work. The labourers disturbed a significant amount of asbestos insulation board present in the structure, spreading asbestos debris around the site.

The construction work was brought to the attention of the HSE by a member of the public who observed the labourers working on the roof, without scaffolding or other control measures, to prevent them falling from height. The asbestos was later cleaned up by a licensed asbestos removal company.

An HSE investigation found that Rasheed had not carried out a refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey before work began. Furthermore, he had not ensured the workers he’d engaged had the necessary skills, knowledge and experience, including asbestos awareness training, to undertake this work.

Previously a jury had found Rasheed guilty of breaching safety regulations. At the sentencing hearing last week he was given a Community Order including 100 hours unpaid work and a 10 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

After the hearing HSE inspector David King said: “This was a case of a contractor completely failing to grasp the importance of planning, managing and monitoring construction work to ensure the health and safety of construction workers.

“Companies and their Directors should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Latest news

Green light for £100m Liverpool Baltic station build

Enabling highway works to start in the autumn
7 hours ago

Three firms land £170m Gentoo Sunderland housing deal

PHS Solutions, Esh and RE:GEN to deliver 10-year home upgrade plan
8 hours ago

Gateway gridlock hits build-to-rent delivery as starts nosedive

Build to rent starts plunge 18% in the capital
14 hours ago

Call to shift Gateway 2 checks to end building bottleneck

"The current system isn't working but we all want to see safe buildings"
13 hours ago

GBN launches £600m bid race for SMR engineer roles

Owner engineers to provide technical and assurance services
14 hours ago

Wates hires ex-Homes England chief to head public sector push

Robert Stone to spearhead its public sector and national frameworks strategy
14 hours ago

Acheson Construction collapse costs suppliers £8.5m

One frustrated creditor seized a telehandler after contractor went into administration
1 day ago

Dominus wins go-ahead for 173-bed Glasgow scheme

Old Wynd Street job expected to cost around £25m to build
1 day ago

Safety Regulator misses deadline to clear Gateway 2 backlog

Investors pulling out of funding high rise buildings
2 days ago

CITB still sitting on £95m cash pile

Staff numbers jump from 666 to 763 as training body wage bill soars
2 days ago

£500m road surfacing framework market call

NEPO goes out to consultation on north east regional highways deal
2 days ago

Two share £220m Scottish rail repairs and minor works deal

AmcoGiffen and CPMS win civils and building repair deals
2 days ago

Builder wanted for £60m London leisure and flats job

Tower Hamlets aims to replace St George’s Leisure Centre in Shadwell
2 days ago

Contractor confirmed for business park expansion

Roe Developments to start on next phase of Castle Donington scheme
2 days ago

Driver escapes injury as scaffold collapses onto van

Major three-lift scaffold fall blocks north London high street
7 days ago

Gilbert Ash to be sold to staff

£267m turnover contractor to transition to an Employee Ownership Trust
1 week ago

M Group seals biggest-ever deal with Telent takeover

Digital infrastructure specialist deal lifts turnover to £3bn
7 days ago

Aggregates firm Ashville went down owing more than £3m

Debts revealed in Companies House update
7 days ago

Cardo saves 100 jobs at Breyer roofing arm

Private equity-backed Welsh maintenance group continues to expand
1 week ago

Excavator knocked off lorry going under bridge

Traffic Commissioner inquiry after accident in south London
7 days ago

Czech energy tycoon buys UK’s biggest rebar supplier

Spanish offload Celsa UK operation to be rebranded 7 Steel UK
1 week ago

Caddick Construction targets £400m turnover

Regional shake-up pays off at contracting arm
1 week ago

Redrow chief steps down after Barratt merger

Matthew Pratt leaving after 22 years
1 week ago

United Living names new property services senior team

New CEO and COO appointed to lead growth in housing upkeep and retrofit
1 week ago

Wynne triples turnover in three years to over £90m

Five-year growth strategy pays off
1 week ago

Speedy Hire blames Budget for branch closures

National Insurance rises accelerate closure programme
1 week ago

Builder gets suspended sentence for Covid loan fraud

M&E specialist inflated turnover to claim maximum loan
1 week ago

Scores of M&E firms win places on £400m CHIC framework

Axis Europe and Seddon secured spots on social housing deal
1 week ago

Coroner hears how worker was crushed under digger

Inquest opens into tragedy at Rose Builders site
1 week ago

Billington lowers 2025 forecast amid pricing pressure

Tender prices under pressure due to project delays and cancellations
1 week ago

Contractor services