Asbestos breach by council contractor (From Harrow Times)

Asbestos breach by council contractor

11:57am Monday 7th July 2008

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A COMPANY has admitted failing to comply with health and safety regulations in the disposal of "low risk" asbestos.

Staff at construction firm Kier have been carrying out building work in Brookside Close, Eastcote, where they have been called on to dispose of household goods, like bakelite cisterns, that contain the potentially dangerous substance.

But in a report given to Harrow Council, and seen by the Harrow Times, the company admits its staff did not adhere to their own procedure or regulations set by the Health and Safety Executive.

Mr C Bunker, a general manager at the firm, said: "The correct procedure dictates that these materials should have been double bagged within the property and placed in encapsulated hazardous waste skips for removal by a licensed contractor."

The report follows calls by Labour Councillor Bob Currie, of Roxbourne Ward, who lives in Brookside Close, for an investigation into asbestos disposal on the estate.

He said: "We've got to get our act together with this. It's not up to me to pick this up, it should have been picked up a long time ago."

The report states the workers responsible have already left the company.

Mr Bunker said: "Although such non-adherence is non-excusable, materials of this nature are only hazardous to health when reduced to small fibrous particles."

Cllr Currie, whose uncle died after coming into contact with asbestos, said he was not worried for the residents of Brookside Close but thought there could be health risks when it is processed as waste.

He said: "If you throw this substance into the incinerator it turns into toxic fumes."

The Kier group has been carrying out refurbishment work in Brookside Close as part of Decent Homes, a project aimed at improving council and social housing in the borough.

It has already received a large number of complaints from residents about a number of different projects and the Labour group on the council is now calling in to question whether it was the right company for the job.

Councillor Bill Stephenson, newly elected leader of the group, said: "I supported Kier and I'm very disappointed because they came with good references and on Decent Homes they just have not delivered.

"I'm dealing with several cases where residents are tearing their hair out. I just think there's a systemic failure there and it really needs to be addressed."

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