Netflix sues London studio for £200,000 ‘after asbestos delayed Bridgerton production’
Netflix is suing a north London studio for more than £200,000 over claims production of period drama Bridgerton had to be moved because of fears asbestos would fall on the set.
The firm signed a £2million-a-year deal to use Neasden Studios for the creation of the eight-part series, set in Regency London and starring Dame Julie Andrews.
But High Court papers show Bridgerton had a troubled five-month stint in Neasden last year which ended abruptly in May when Netflix deemed the studio unsafe to use. The roof had been leaking, it is said, ceiling tiles fell down, and in one incident asbestos allegedly fell down on to a construction manager’s face.
Stephen Jourdan QC, in written submissions for Netflix Studios UK, said asbestos was then discovered in roof voids and on top of high beams, which had allegedly not been treated above the point where they could be seen from the ground. He said: “This created a serious risk of ACMs (asbestos containing materials) falling from the high-level beams and columns into the property, causing a danger to health.” (Courtesy of The Evening Standard)
Former construction company directors sentenced for failing to prevent exposure to asbestos
Two former company directors have been sentenced and fined after a refurbishment project at a former department store was found to have disturbed asbestos containing materials (ACMs) while demolition work was still taking place.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that during October 2017, the former Joplings Department Store in Sunderland was undergoing refurbishment when workers disturbed large quantities of asbestos.
Following a reported concern regarding unsafe construction work at the site, an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that demolition and stripping work had been carried out inside the property. The age of the building and previous refurbishment work meant that there were vast quantities of ACMs inside the building.
During several months of demolition and refurbishment work the ACMs had been broken up using sledgehammers and brute force. Asbestos fibres were spread across five floors of the building as well as outside of the city centre property. At the time of HSE’s intervention, 1,315 square metres of contaminated waste was found across the shop floors and in the stairwell.
Former director of Keebar Construction, Alan Barraclough, of Hutton Lane, Guisborough was found guilty of breaching two counts of Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 etc. He received a 14-month sentence, suspended for 2 years, and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid community work within 12 months. He was suspended as a director for 10 years and ordered to pay costs of £44,774.21.
Former director of Keebar Construction, James Keegan, of Larkspur Road, Middlesbrough was also found guilty of breaching two counts of Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 etc. He also received a 14-month sentence, suspended for 2 years, and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid community work within 12 months. He was suspended as a director for 10 years and ordered to pay costs of £44,774.21. (Courtesy of Inspectas)
Construction company fined and director sentenced after workers exposed to asbestos
A Manchester based construction company has been fined and its director sentenced to a community order of 200 hours unpaid work after workers disturbed asbestos during a refurbishment project.
Manchester Magistrates Court heard that between May and June 2021, Sal Construction Ltd had been contracted to carry out refurbishment work of student accommodation at Darbishire House, Upper Brook Street, Manchester.
The project consisted of providing bathrooms for all rooms and constructing two studio flats. Work began by building two show rooms on the ground floor before beginning work on the top floor which was stripped back to brickwork. During this work, asbestos pipe lagging was removed, and debris spread across the site and in and around the skip in the yard area.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that this work was carried out by five or six employees under the supervision of Sal Zardooi, the sole director of the company instead of a licenced asbestos removal contractor.
Sal Construction Services Limited of Finney Lane, Heald Green, Cheadle pleaded guilty to breaches of Section 2 (1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,133.45.
Salar Zardooi of Finney Lane, Heald Green, Cheadle pleaded guilty to breaches of Section 2 (1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, by virtue of 37(1) of the Act and was sentenced to 200 hours unpaid work and to pay costs of £2,007.75.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector, David Norton, said:
”These risks could so easily have been avoided by acting on the findings of the asbestos survey and carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.” (Courtesy of Inspectas)
Asbestos management company director jailed and fined £100k for failure to protect workers
An asbestos management company director has been jailed after failures to protect workers from asbestos exposure during a major refurbishment project in Plymouth.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard that in February 2017, concerns were raised by workers at Ensure Asbestos Management Limited who believed they were being put in danger whilst carrying out refurbishment work at a department store.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found irregularities in the asbestos surveys and clearance certificates, with some found to be fraudulent. Ensure Asbestos Management Limited had been contracted to carry out an asbestos survey, remove all identified asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) from the building and then carry out the initial strip-out of the building before it was refurbished. However, the company was found to have deliberately cut corners in managing the danger of asbestos exposure putting workers at risk.
Ensure Asbestos Management Limited of Station Road, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £100,000. As the company is in liquidation, there is no prospect of a payment being made and so no order for costs was made.
Director of Ensure Asbestos Management Billy Hopwood pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. He was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, immediate concurrent on each charge. He has also been disqualified as a director for five years. (Courtesy of Inspectas)