Company fined over asbestos incident

A Dunedin roof repair and sealing company has been fined $30,000 after its contractor waterblasted a brittle asbestos roof, spreading contamination over nearby surroundings.

Sealtec Otago Ltd employed the contractor last May to waterblast the corrugated asbestos roof of an engineering business before a sealant was applied.

The engineering business reported suspected asbestos contamination to the Department of Labour after residue and fibre was deposited on floors, machinery and cars.

Sealtec admitted two charges under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, and was fined $15,000 on each charge in Dunedin District Court today.

The charges were of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of the contractor, and of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure that a hazard (asbestos) did not harm people in the vicinity of a place of work.

Department of Labour Dunedin workplace service manager Mark Murray said Sealtec and the contractor lacked experience of working with asbestos and didn't know the dangers of waterblasting it.

The roof was brittle asbestos, which meant the contractor could have fallen through it, six metres to the ground, Mr Murray said.

"Everything about how this job was conducted was highly dangerous ... Quite unnecessary risks were taken with people's lives and wellbeing."

- NZPA