Director Fined £75k After Workers Exposed To Asbestos -

A COMPANY and its director were fined after a HSE site inspection found workers had been knowingly exposed to asbestos.

Inspectors from the Heath and Safety Executive (HSE) found an uncontrolled spread of asbestos containing materials at the site where Eye Track Limited was carrying out demolition work in Stretford, Manchester.

Director Selcuk Pinarbasi was handed a five-month suspended sentence and fined £75,000. The company was also fined £20,000 during the same hearing at Manchester Crown Court on 25 April 2024. Both pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches.

Site Inspection

HSE Inspectors first visited the premises on Talbot Road in April 2019 after concerns were raised over workers unsafely working at height during the demolition of a number of units and construction of eight new residential houses.

During the inspection, HSE found significant amounts of asbestos-containing materials across the site, mostly large amounts of debris associated with the breakage of asbestos-containing roof sheets from the demolished units.

One unit taken down was estimated to contain 100 square metres of asbestos insulation board, 70% of which was demolished by hand and machinery.

Workers Exposed to Asbestos

A subsequent HSE investigation found the asbestos removal work was carried out under the direct control and instruction of Eye Track Limited director Selcuk Pinarbasi, who it says was fully aware of the potential dangers of asbestos.

Selcuk Pinarbasi had some months earlier instructed a suitably qualified asbestos surveyor to carry out an asbestos demolition survey which had identified in detail the presence of both licensed and unlicensed materials throughout the site. He was therefore fully aware of the risks the site posed from the presence of asbestos materials on his site prior to any demolition work taking place.

Company and Director Fined

Eye Track Limited, of Talbot Road, Stretford, Manchester, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £18,783.61 in costs at Manchester Crown Court on 25 April 2024.

At the same hearing, Selcuk Pinarbasi, of Bankhall Lane, Hale, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) and Section 33(1)(g), by virtue of Section 37(1), of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He received a custodial sentence of 20 weeks, suspended for 12 months. He was also fined £75,000 and ordered to pay costs of £18,783.61.

Total Disregard for Safety

HSE inspector Phil Redman said: “This case highlights how such behaviour will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Lives were deliberately put at risk as profits were prioritised over safety during the uncontrolled demolition and removal of asbestos containing materials.

“Eye Track Limited and its director showed a total disregard for the health, safety and welfare of workers working under their control.”

Guidance on asbestos safety has recently been updated by HSE. The current Asbestos: Your Duty campaign aims to improve understanding of what the legal duty to manage asbestos involves.

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