A Rotorua flooring company whose staff were exposed to asbestos in old lino claims it could have got there from work on a ceiling above it.
In the Rotorua District Court yesterday, Pearce Flooring was convicted and discharged after pleading guilty to three breaches of the Health and Safety In Employment Act and one of exposing employees to asbestos.
The prosecution was brought by WorkSafe NZ.
The court heard inspectors found that lino containing asbestos had been lifted, ground up and disposed of.
Sentencing the company, Judge Cooper said its director, who had many years experience in flooring materials, had looked at other, more modern lino in the house and was satisfied there were no issues involving asbestos - but the lino which did have asbestos in it had been under a carpet that was to be replaced and not seen by him.
