HSE prosecutes Marks and Spencer
January 14th 15:54 Health and Safety
The necessity of firms to have effective facilities management in place has been highlighted after the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a number of companies over the handling of asbestos materials.
Marks and Spencer (M&S) is among the five firms currently being prosecuted over the exposure of asbestos fibres to members of the public.
The HSE initiated criminal proceedings against the companies at Bournemouth Magistrates court in Dorset earlier this week, following incidents at a branch of the shopping chain in the town as well stores in Plymouth and Reading.
M&S pleaded not guilty to three breaches of section 2(1) and three breaches of section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Willmott Dixon Construction of Hertfordshire entered no plea to allegations of contravening sections of the Act, while Manchester-based company PA Realisations also faces allegations of breaching the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations.
The charges relate to both M&S employees and members of the public following incidents at the three stores between September 2004 and November 2006.
A committal hearing will take place at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court at 14:15 on Tuesday 9 February 2010.
Styles and Wood, which operates from a base in Cheshire, pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations and will be sentenced at Crown Court at a later date.
