A North Wales waste and recycling company has been fined £36,000 for repeatedly failing to provide appropriate welfare facilities and asbestos awareness training for employees.
A routine inspection by the Health and Safety Executive found that World Care (Wales) Limited tasked employees with sorting waste and recyclable materials by hand without ensuring warm running water and soap was available, as well as a means for employees to dry themselves.
The HSE said the waste materials could have been contaminated with asbestos, which had been brought onto the site on at least one occasion. World Care (Wales) Limited also did not provide asbestos awareness training to its employees.
An investigation found that the company had received previous enforcement notices in relation to welfare provisions and training on several occasions over an 11-year period.
On each occasion, HSE inspectors found that the company failed to maintain the minimum health and safety standards required.
At Llandudno Magistrates’ Court, World Care (Wales) Limited of Tre Marl Industrial Estate, North Wales, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £36,000 and £8,867 in costs.
Commenting on the fine, HSE Inspector James Benton said: “The health risks from exposure to material containing asbestos is well known yet this company wasn’t providing the appropriate facilities for workers to protect themselves.”
“After being told of the risks, this company repeatedly failed to provide adequate welfare facilities such as soap and running water, and failed to provide asbestos awareness training to employees.”