A construction site manager has been sentenced after directing a bricklayer to demolish a wall that contained asbestos, which put him at serious risk. The Site manager supervising the refurbishment of the Monwel Hankinson facility which manufactures equipment for people with disabilities.

A full site survey for asbestos had been carried out, but the Site manager failed to check the warnings it gave and instructed a bricklayer to manually demolish the known asbestos-containing fascia boards from the building.

He used a hammer and chisel to break up the board into fragments, which generated plumes of dust, releasing asbestos fibres into the air. He continued working as he had been asked to until another manager realised the danger and told him to stop. The worker had to undergo emergency decontamination as a result.

Architects employed by Newport City Council, which partly runs the facility, had specifically designed the refurbishment work to avoid disturbing any of the asbestos-containing materials. The site manager was aware of this element of the refurbishment plan.

He later informed Newport City Council that additional work was needed on the building and, rather than waiting for the authorisation or amended plans from the architects, he went ahead and told the worker to carry out the work which led to him being exposed to the potentially deadly asbestos.

The Site manager pleaded guilty to breaching Section 7(a) of the Health and Safety at work etc. Act 1974 and was given a suspended sentence of two months. He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of community service.