In March 2025, an independent contractor was sentenced after a roof replacement job for domestic garages resulted in uncontrolled asbestos spread. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated this incident after it exposed asbestos debris to the surrounding residents, contaminated gardens and personal belongings of others, and raised a wider issue whereby too many contractors and property owners don’t take sufficient asbestos precautions.
This case should not simply be seen as a news story; it is delivered as a warm warning to all parties involved in managing any form of building work linked to any possibility of asbestos being present. You may be a property owner, trade professional or facilities manager; you all have a duty of care to protect others from the dangers of asbestos. This all starts with planning, including an identifiable asbestos risk assessment, an asbestos inspection, and the necessary asbestos surveys where required.
What Happened?
The contractor involved had been hired to replace corrugated asbestos cement roof sheets along a line of domestic garages. But, rather than adopting proper safety measures, he stripped off the sheets without control measures in place, such that fragments and dust fell into adjacent gardens. The remains landed on sheds, benches, and even kids’ playthings.
And to make it worse, the contractor left the rubbish strewn on the site for days without containing or disposing of it. The risk to neighbors was real, and utterly preventable.
This work should never have been done without a proper asbestos survey and licensed removal assistance, said the HSE. The contractor was convicted of a breach of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, namely Regulation 11(1) (prevention of exposure) and Regulation 16 (duty to prevent spread).
Legal And Financial Consequences
The contractor received a 12-month Community Order, which included 200 hours of community service and was also ordered to pay costs of £3,582. But the financial penalty here only tells half the story.
The reputational damage and legal repercussions from incidents such as these can affect businesses for years. Had the contractor stuck to procedures, including obtaining a professional asbestos survey, the issue would have most likely never occurred.
Lessons for the Industry
This case exemplifies an ongoing problem. Too many people are failing to recognise the risks of asbestos. It is not simply the old commercial buildings that are an issue; residential garages, sheds, and farm buildings can also include asbestos materials.
Some useful points from this case study are:
- Conduct a full asbestos risk assessment prior to work being undertaken on older buildings.
- Do not assume that asbestos doesn’t exist simply because a building looks safe to enter.
- Have a qualified professional conduct an asbestos survey, especially if refurbishment or demolition work is being undertaken.
Why Asbestos Surveys and Inspections Matter
Asbestos surveys are crucial before any construction work even begins, especially before any work is undertaken on old buildings. These surveys identify the asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and assess their condition. There are different kinds of surveys; for ongoing occupancy, management survey; refurbishment, and demolition surveys, which are both required before major renovations or work anyways.
In addition to asbestos surveys, a professional asbestos inspection will identify the specific risks encountered. Asbestos inspections play a crucial part in making sure contractors and building owners know the risks they are about to disturb.
If these measures are not taken, workers and occupants are left to the elements, and a legal risk certainly is accumulating.
Don’t Let This Happen to You
What happened in this case was not a mistake but negligence. If you are planning any construction, renovation or demolition work on any building that was built before 2000, you must assume that asbestos is there unless you can prove that it is not.
Before you pick up your tools, please stop and ask yourself:
- Has an asbestos survey been undertaken recently?
- Has an asbestos risk assessment taken place?
- Do you have a competent asbestos inspection report?
If you can’t answer yes to all three questions, be careful, because it may be too late.
Your Safety, Our Expertise
At Scopus Asbestos Compliance Ltd, we provide comprehensive asbestos surveys, expert asbestos inspection, and detailed asbestos risk assessments to ensure full legal compliance and maximum safety. Whether you’re managing a domestic project or a large commercial site, our qualified consultants are here to guide you through the process with clarity, accuracy, and confidence.