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HSE press release E010:06 - 02 February 2006
Egg carton manufacturer
fined £50,000 over asbestos
Following its successful prosecution of Omni-Pac (UK)
Ltd, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reminds everyone of the dangers
of asbestos.
Yesterday (1 February) the Great Yarmouth based company was fined a total
of £50,000 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £86,000 at
Norwich Crown Court, after pleading guilty to breaching health and safety
law. This criminal case follows an investigation by HSE into the condition
of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) at the firm’s site in South Denes
Road in October 2003.
Following the hearing, Paul Carter, HSE investigating inspector, said: "Asbestos
is the single greatest cause of work-related death; breathing in asbestos
fibres can lead to serious diseases, including cancer. This case demonstrates
that HSE takes the failure to properly manage the risks from asbestos extremely
seriously. Businesses need to ensure that they are complying with the law.
"Omni-pac failed to maintain the asbestos containing materials throughout
the site, particularly in those areas at high level that were not readily
visible. The company failed to adhere to its own procedures and consequently
people could have been exposed asbestos over a long period of time."
Air samples showed a high level of asbestos at Omni-Pac. The primary source
of contamination was from damaged and poorly maintained asbestos insulation
on top of dryers used to produce the finished papier-mâché egg
cartons.
Egg carton manufacturer fined £50,000
Omni-pac pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing, held at Great Yarmouth Magistrates’
Court on Monday, November 7. The company admitted breaches of Sections 2(1)
and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, with respect to the
company’s duties both to its employees and to others who were affected by
the way it conducted its undertaking. Yesterday the company was fined £25,000
for each breach.
Notes to editors:
1. Asbestos is the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in Great
Britain – around 3,500 deaths each year. Inhalation of asbestos fibres can
lead to serious diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma (cancer of the
lining of the chest or abdominal wall) and asbestosis (an irreversible scarring
of the lungs that causes a decrease in lung function).
2. Further information on asbestos is available on the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/index.htm
. HSE’s free guide, A short guide to managing asbestos in premises [PDF 183kb],
can be downloaded from this site.
3. Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states that “It
shall be the duty of every employee to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable,
the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees”.
4. Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states: “It shall
be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as
to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment
who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health
and safety”.
Press Enquiries
Karen Eldridge 020 7717 6219
Out of hours: 020 7928 8382
Public Enquiries
HSE InfoLine 0845 345 0055
Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.
HSE information and news releases can be accessed on the Internet www.hse.gov.uk
