Council fined for asbestos exposure
The City of Lincoln Council has been fined £12,000 after a woman and her disabled son were exposed to asbestos dust for three days due to a mistake during work at their house.
While making modifications at the home of Lorena Hall, council workers found the substance, which can lead to asbestos diseases such as the fatal lung condition mesothelioma - a rare form of cancer.
Lincoln Magistrates' Court was told that a firm hired to remove the substance broke it up indoors with a hammer, flooding the property with the dust, after a breakdown in communications.
Ms Hall and her son Michael, who suffers from cerebral palsy, were exposed to the dust for three days before a private company, rather than council officials, realised the mistake.
The local authority pleaded guilty to health and safety violations. It was ordered to pay a fine of £12,000 as well as meeting costs of £10,000.