States deputy chief executive John Richardson
THE States was yesterday fined £10,000 in the Royal Court for endangering the lives of two workers on a St Clement estate.
Both men were exposed to potentially lethal asbestos during work on the redevelopment of the Clos de Roncier estate.
The case comes just days after Health and Safety chief Colin Myers warned that the killer material was his public enemy number one.
The States Employment Board, which was represented by deputy chief executive John Richardson, admitted the offence and was also ordered to pay £2,000 in costs in addition to the £10,000 fine.
Also in the dock was Coastline PVCu Products Ltd, represented by beneficial owner Martin Stratford, which admitted two counts related to the exposure of workers to asbestos insulation board.
Fines totalling £8,000 plus costs of £2,000 were imposed on the company.
• See Friday’s JEP for full story.
Article posted on 31st July, 2009 - 3.00pm
3 Article Comments
So, the States Employment Board gets taken to the Royal Court by the States Health and Safety Department where a panel of States paid employees decide a fine to be paid to …. The States.
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Lets hope lots of money (not just any money but OUR money) was given to lawyers in the process of the states paying the states all this money.
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It seems ironic that the States pays the States for offending against the Jersey Health and Safety regulations in connection with asbestos hazards. Surely there must have been some responsible person or persons in authority sensuring that this asbestos board was dealt with safely. Having had a good deal of experience overseeing the safe removal of asbestos containing materials from UK industrial plants, I would have expected to be liable to personnel prosecution had I failed to thoroughly inspect the contractor’s Method Statement, and issued/accepted an inadequate Permit-to-Work, prior to authorising commencement of operations.
Asbestosis/mesothelioma, which can take anything up 40 years to manifest itself, is the most horrenduous of terminal diseases for anyone to suffer, as they end their details gasping for every breath.
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