The subcontractor, Woodlands Plant Hire, was also fined £50,000
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Mansell and subcontractor Woodlands Plant Hire Ltd of Ickleton, South Cambridgeshire, put workers and the public at risk by failing to properly manage the presence of asbestos during the refurbishment of a residential block of flats, between 24 November and 8 December 2009.
During the work in an occupied London Borough of Hackney block of flats, asbestos insulation board was disturbed and removed by Woodlands Plant Hire, potentially releasing the deadly substance into the air.
Mansell had been notified in a survey that asbestos was present but it did nothing about it. Nor did it tell its subcontractors.
Mansell Construction Services Ltd of Croydon pleaded guilty and was fined £50,000 at the Old Bailey for breaching Regulation 22(1)(a) Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.
Woodlands Plant Hire Ltd of Ickleton, South Cambridgeshirepleaded guilty of breaching regulations 5, 8(1) and 11(a) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations2006, and was fined £50,000. The companies were also ordered to pay joint costs of £20,690.
HSE inspector Dominic Ellis said: "Despite recent high profile campaigns on the dangers of working with asbestos, this case sadly illustrates some companies are still failing to manage the risks robustly.
"Mansell had information that asbestos was present, yet neglected to act on it, meaning a licensable asbestos material was removed in an uncontrolled manner, needlessly risking the health of contractors and members of the public."
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