Construction firm Kier flouted safety rules over asbestos disposal

Construction firm Kier flouted safety rules with the improper disposal of asbestos in South Harrow, a damning report found.

Workers refurbishing properties in Brookside Close and Eastcote Lane ripped out floor tiles and toilet cisterns covered in cancer-causing asbestos last February and dumped them in an open skip, rather than putting them in a bag inside a hazardous waste skip so a licensed waste contractor could collect it.

Asbestos can cause cancer by breathing in the fibres, although the tossed materials were deemed a 'neglible risk to the public' because the tiles were thermoplastic and the cisterns were made from Bakelite.

The incident, called 'unfortunate' by Kier, breached health and safety policy and the sub-contractors are no longer employed by the company.

A report into the case remained confidential until pressure by the opposition Labour party forced Conservative-run Harrow Council to make it public.

The report says: "As a result of accepted poor site management and inadequate quality control measures undertaken by Kier...operatives did not receive appropriate asbestos related information.

"This failure by the site manager of Kier was in clear contravention of the company's and Harrow Council's health and safety policy."

Before the asbestos-dumping took place Kier had sacked an area manager responsible for Brookside Close and neighbouring streets for flouting health and safety laws.

Ward councillor Bob Currie (Labour) said: "I don't think the report goes far enough. I think at least the council or Kier should have written to these tenants to tell them asbestos had been removed from their property.

"The tenants have never had a letter of apology either."

Councillor Paul Osborn (Conservative), Harrow Council's portfolio holder for performance, communication and corporate services, said: "This report relates to an issue over asbestos that was reported in the media last year. The conclusion is that there was a 'negligible' risk to residents, Kier and Harrow employees. That conclusion was made public at the time.

"Harrow Council believes it has a clear duty to disclose information in the public interest and that has already been done in this case.

"It is important to note that this report was submitted to a cross-party committee of councillors and was not a document held only by the administration."