Headmaster escapes asbestos conviction: didn't know asbestos was dangerous
Published on Fri 8 Dec 2006
The Headmaster of a school in Derbyshire has been found not guilty of failing to protect the health of others after explaining that he wasn’t aware of the dangers of asbestos.
The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted Phillip Robinson under the Health and Safety at Work Act after the Headmaster had authorised workmen to carry out building work despite being informed that asbestos was present.
An earlier survey had revealed the presence of the substance but Robinson said he had received no training in the dangers of asbestos and didn’t know that it was present in the area the builders were working.
Phillip Robinson said:
"On the opening day of this trial somebody made the comment that everybody knows how dangerous asbestos was. I didn't realise, I knew nothing about asbestos. I had no idea there might be asbestos dust or that anything might come off it. The whole thing has been a complete new learning curve for me."
Read our earlier report on this story Tags: asbestos, legal, HSE, Control Limit, COSHH, case
