A COMPANY in Poole has been fined for safety breaches after exposing workers to potentially fatal asbestos at the old Pilkington Tiles site.

Poole Investments plc, which is developing the disused tile factory in Blandford Road, Hamworthy was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive at Bournemouth Magistrates Court for safety failings.

The court heard the company has agreed to sell redundant plant at the factory site to a local trader. Between October 2010 and the following April the trader unwittingly released asbestos dust and fibres when he demolished part of a disused pottery kiln.

In May 2011, Poole Investments commissioned a firm to carry out an asbestos survey but allowed work to take place on site and next to the damaged kiln before the survey was completed in August that year, said the HSE.

Even after receiving the survey report, which clearly said asbestos debris was present and the area should be out-of-bounds, they allowed work to continue, the court was told.

Poole Investments plc of Amersham, Bucks was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £20,000 in costs after pleading guilty to three breaches of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.