An employee exposed his workers to asbestos fibres during the refurbishment of a social club in Ashington, Northumberland.

Mid and South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court heard how on purchasing the club, Timour Haghkar failed to have an asbestos survey carried out and as a result was unware of the presence of Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB) within the Excelsior Social Club building.

The refurbishment works disturbed the AIB and no suitable controls were in place to protect the workers from the fibres produced or restrict the spread of those fibres.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Timour Haghkar removed the AIB in an uncontrolled manner and without using a licenced asbestos removal contractor.

Timour Haghkar, of Woodhorn Road, Ashington, Northumberland was fined £560 after being found guilty of breaching Regulations 5 and 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. The company was also ordered to pay £795 costs. In addition to the fines imposed by the court Timour Haghkar has also been charged £8,391.29 in fees for the cost of the HSE investigation as well as having to pay out £36,000 for the subsequent safe removal of the asbestos waste by a licenced asbestos removal contractor.