The Health and Safety Executive has issued a statement addressing concerns raised by staff working for Quinten Hubbard, over the treatment of materials containing asbestos in properties the infamous businessman owned.
One former employee, Kevin Driscoll took Mr Hubbard to an industrial tribunal for unfair dismissal - which he won last week.
He had said that the correct documents weren't provided so he and other staff were not happy to work in one of Mr Hubbard's properties as they were wary of being exposed to asbestos.
Pictured: Some of the businesses owned by Mr Hubbard, who also owned a number of properties for development, including those Mr Driscoll raised concerns about.
Mr Driscoll lost his job working as a handyman for Mr Hubbard's various businesses, and the tribunal panel agreed he was unfairly dismissed. He was awarded £18,720 in lost earnings as a result.
His concerns over asbestos in the un-named property, which is believed to be one of a number owned at one time by Mr Hubbard in La Charroterie, are now a matter of public record, which Express put to Robin Gonard, the Chief Health and Safety Officer for Guernsey's Health and Safety Executive.
Mr Gonard said he was aware of the so-far-un-named property and that although the complaints regarding asbestos and its treatment within that site were taken seriously, it appears there was little that could be done as there is now very limited risk from asbestos there.
"The risks of asbestos are well known," he said, "asbestos fibres are a category 1 carcinogen. All forms of asbestos carry risks, with certain asbestos materials posing significant risks to workers (eg asbestos insulation board). Employers have a duty to manage those risks, and to prevent exposure to asbestos fibres during work activities. A key part of the risk management system is the asbestos survey that must be undertaken before any demolition, refurbishment or removal of asbestos products is undertaken. The survey and asbestos register are used to inform workers about the risks and the safe methods of working."
Pictured: Quinten Hubbard used to own this site on La Charroterie but no longer does. The property which was discussed during Mr Driscoll's employment tribunal with regards asbestos is believed to be a nearby property, also on La Charroterie, also previously owned by Mr Hubbard.
With regards the property owned by Mr Hubbard (not the site pictured above, but believed to be nearby on La Charroterie), Mr Gonard said it was clear work had been done that was not registered formally.
"The Health and Safety Executive received a complaint about the site in question and an inspector served a prohibition notice until the absence of asbestos could be confirmed. An asbestos survey later confirmed that asbestos previously identified had been removed, though we could not ascertain when or how, due to the time elapsed since the previous asbestos survey," said Mr Gonard.
Mr Gonard confirmed that prohibition notice was served in respect of the site Mr Hubbard owned in March 2018.
As it was clear at that point that "some asbestos had been removed, but HSE were unable to ascertain whether all the work was carried out by a competent contractor," the prohibition notice was served and the site shut down.
Mr Gonard said that, "in order to comply with the prohibition notice, the employer had to commission a new asbestos refurbishment and demolition survey. This confirmed that asbestos containing materials were no longer present on site, and therefore no further action was required."
Pictured top: File image of asbestos laden material in a ceiling.
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