The director of an engineering firm in Bridgnorth, northwest of Birmingham, has appeared in court over staff exposure to asbestos materials.
Peter Parkes and his two companies were fined in court following an investigation that uncovered asbestos at his Kidderminster factory.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspected the factory in February of 2019, owned by Kespar Engineering Limited, one of Parkes’ companies.
Employees of the engineering firm and the garage at the site worked at the premises. Upon inspection, HSE inspectors found a large number of materials containing asbestos.
They noted that risks from asbestos had not been appropriately managed at the premises, inclduing failing to ensure ‘suitable and sufficient assessment’ of health risks to staff. Both companies had asbestos management plans, but they had not been updated or reviewed.
Additionally, the location and condition of the asbestos at the site weren’t monitored, and the risk of exposure from the ACM was not ‘adequately considered or controlled’.
Parkes admitted several counts under Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 related to his failings as a director of Kespar Engineering Ltd, SDF Automotive Ltd and Smethwick Drop Forge Ltd.
He was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence, fined £9,000 and ordered to pay £14,000 costs. Kespar Engineering Ltd was fined £51,000 and ordered to pay costs of £30,000. In total, the companies and Parkes are required to pay a £104,000 court bill.