Pattersons Insurerbuild pty ltd fined $20k for asbestos found in Gympie library

When a major company sent workers in to repair the hail-damaged Gympie Library, one dangerous detail was left out.

A company will pay almost $20,000 in fines after it was discovered subcontractors sent to repair the Gympie library weren’t told the building contained asbestos.

A representative from Pattersons Insurerbuild pty ltd, pleaded guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court, on behalf of company, to failing to ensure the health and safety of workers.

Documents showed asbestos had been used in the building but this information was not passed on to subcontractors.

A number of buildings were damaged in the October 2018 hailstorm, including the Gympie library, where the asbestos was found without informing the subcontractors. Photo: Facebook

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals made up of heat resistant fibres, and was commonly used in construction as an insulator and added to other materials to make them stronger before it was declared dangerous.

When asbestos dust is inhaled or ingested, the fibres can become trapped in the body and cause cancer.

The court heard Pattersons Insurerbuild had hired subcontractors to repair damage done to the Gympie library after an intense hailstorm in October, 2018.

Tom Ward from Workplace Health and Safety appeared for the prosecution.

Gympie Regional Council, which had engaged Pattersons, handed an asbestos registry report to the company showing roofing tiles contained asbestos, but a Pattersons employee did not pass that report on.

Two months later in December, a 16-year-old and a 27-year-old were employed to repair the damage to the library, and began “jackhammering” the tiles, Magistrate Chris Callaghan said.

At around 10.30am the two workers were informed the tiles may have contained the toxic material.

The pair immediately stopped work and called their director, who said he had no record of asbestos in the tiles and told them to continue work.

Barrister Sean Farrell defended Pattersons Insurerbuild pty ltd

It was only when the council, which was observing the workers, realised the error and had the building evacuated.

Dust and tile samples were taken and tested, and were found to contain asbestos.

Magistrate Callaghan said it was not alleged the two workers were at risk of death from the discovery.

The company was fined $20,000 and ordered to pay a further $1599.70 in costs.

No conviction was recorded.