A Teesside man has been handed a community order after removing asbestos from a school without a licence.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said Sean Thomas Faulkner, 55, from Berkeley Avenue, Hartlepool, also intentionally falsified clearance paperwork after removing asbestos containing materials from Our Lady Lourdes School in Shotton Collery in March 2021.

Faulkner carried out similar work at a domestic property on Park Road in Middlesbrough in November 2020.

Faulkner was given an 18-month community order at Teesside Magistrates’ Court, consisting of 15 days of rehabilitation, 90 days of monitored alcohol abstinence, and 150 hours of unpaid work.

He will also pay costs of £1000.

The Court heard Faulkner failed to hold a licence to safely remove asbestos, as well as ensure a four-stage clearance process was carried out on both jobs by an accredited body.

HSE inspector Stuart Whitesmith said: “Asbestos related disease still kills around 5,000 workers each year in Great Britain. It can be present today in any building or industrial process plant built or refurbished before the year 2000.

“In this case Mr Faulkner intentionally falsified paperwork necessary to ensure the safety of both workers, other staff and vulnerable members of public.

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“We will not hesitate to take action where individuals disregard health and safety law such as can be seen in this case.”

The HSE’s investigation found he had been fully aware of the legal need to carry a licence having undergone relevant training to remove licenced asbestos.

Faulkner plead guilty to six charges, three at each offence location - including contravening Regulations 8(1) and 20(3) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and breaching Section 33 (1)(m) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.