Ref: PRBCAS169
Date: 16 July 2012

''Reckless'' zoo risked workers' health, says Bibby Consulting & Support

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The management team of a zoo that allowed its employees to be exposed to toxic asbestos fibres acted recklessly and put their workforce in danger, warned health and safety specialist Bibby Consulting & Support.

Managing Director Michael Slade was responding to the news that Colchester Zoo was fined £35,000 for breaking health and safety laws after it had asked its workers to remove asbestos from a hay barn.

He said: "This case highlights the ignorance surrounding asbestos which needs to be addressed. While a fine of £35,000 is a significant sum of money - reinforcing the court's view that this was a very serious offence - the amount will seem a pittance to the workers who could find themselves with a fatal illness as a result of following their employer's instructions."

The zoo, which describes itself as "one of the finest zoos in Europe", admitted that it had asked untrained staff to move the material and that some of them had driven a fork lift truck to carry panels of asbestos.

The dangers of asbestos must never be underestimated, Slade warned, pointing out that the risk to health arises when materials containing asbestos become damaged - the fibres are released, become air-borne and are breathed in.

"Some 4,000 people will lose their life in the UK this year as a direct result of exposure to asbestos fibres," Slade said, "the true tragedy is that every one of those deaths could have been avoided had employers and employees been aware of the risks."

He concluded: "Had the zoo taken reasonable precautions and used licensed contractors to carry out the work, this unnecessary spiral of events would never have happened. Seeking guidance would not only have saved the zoo tens of thousands of pounds but more importantly the health of their workers would not have been placed in such danger. Ignorance about asbestos is simply not acceptable."

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Editor's Notes

About Bibby Consulting & Support

Bibby Consulting & Support has earned the reputation of being one of the UK's leading providers of compliance management services. We enable employers and senior managers to attain and maintain compliance within the demanding, complex and constantly evolving fields of Employment Law, Health and Safety and Environmental legislation.

www.bibbycas.com

Media contact:

Sue Tupling

CHANGEWORKS Communications
t: + 44 (0) 1785 247588
e: sue@changeworkscom.co.uk

Company contact:

Katy Vaughan

Head of Marketing

t: +44 (0) 8453 100 600

e:Katy.Vaughan@bibbycas.com