Asbestos was strewn across the roof during property refurb

A construction company and a property management company have both been fined after failing to manage asbestos safely during the refurbishment of a former office block in Stockport.

Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard that Samer Constructions had been contracted by Swift Property Management MCR to refurbish the property in Hazel Grove, Stockport.

Materials containing asbestos and general waste had been discarded from the property in August 2018, and were spread across the roof of a one storey part of the block. Some of the materials had fallen on to a car park area below that was not segregated from passing members of the public.

The HSE investigation found that an asbestos survey had been carried out on 31 May 2018, which identified the presence of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) including licensed ACMs, But Swift Property Management MCR failed to pass on the survey to Samer Constructions before work started.

The court heard that Samer Constructions also failed in its duty as it did not check whether a survey had been carried out. It went ahead with the work in a reckless manner, which resulted in two employees being exposed to asbestos fibres.

Swift Property Management Limited of Denison Road, Manchester, pleaded guilty to breaching sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £25,000 plus costs of £3,428.

Samer Constructions Limited of Platt Lane, Manchester, pleaded guilty to breaching sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £12,000 plus costs of £3,428.

HSE inspector Phil Redman said: “These risks could so easily have been avoided by acting on the findings of the asbestos survey and carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.”