Asbestos Litigation

A contractor in the UK was recently prosecuted for allegedly allowing workers to be exposed to asbestos.

Wayne Priestley was hired to perform asbestos abatement work at a building in Derby, according to a release from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Britain's workplace safety agency.

Priestley is accused of not being properly licensed to perform asbestos removal and using employees who were inadequately trained and equipped to come into contact with the carcinogenic substance.

Safety equipment is essential when removing asbestos from structures as the inhalation of the deadly mineral fibers can cause malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.

HSE inspector Carol Southerd explained the serious nature of the alleged offenses.

"Wayne Priestley has shown a shocking disregard for the well-being of his workforce, and that of skip removal driver," she said in the release. "His unsuitability was eventually discovered after a consultant checked the HSE website and reported him, but by this time it was too late. Mr. Priestley’s men had been on site for three to four days and the site was thoroughly contaminated with damaged asbestos debris."