Ben Thomas represents Heating Engineering Company for Breach of Health & Safety at Work Regulations
Ben ThomasThe defendant company were heating engineers and had been operating for fifty years with an unblemished record. They pleaded guilty to breaching sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The breaches occurred when work was undertaken to install a new heating system at a school in Chester Le Street.
The work resulted in the disturbance of asbestos which led to between 20-50 people being exposed to asbestos fibers. The school was also prosecuted and pleaded guilty to the same charges.
Following Mr Thomas’s detailed written and oral submissions on the sentencing guidelines, the history of the company, their good reputation, their limited profitability and their co-operation with the investigation District Judge Cousins was persuaded to imposed a fine which was significantly lower that the category range for where the case fell within the sentencing guidelines. The company received a fine of £2,000 + costs.
Ben Thomas is a Specialist Regulatory Advocate.