A Hove-based firm has been fined after it contravened asbestos regulations.

Asbestos Damage Limitations, trading as ADL, was prosecuted at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 28 Aug for safety breaches following the work undertaken at premises in Dyke Road, Hove between 22 and 25 October 2013.

The case was brought by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) after investigating a complaint that an unlicensed contractor was carrying out asbestos removal work.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Denis Bodger said: “ADL obviously decided to ignore the fact that its asbestos licence had expired and also that the application to renew had been refused. Instead it carried on regardless and went ahead with work at the premises, removing a ceiling that contained asbestos insulation board.

“When ADL’s licence expired, the firm should have ceased to carry out any work with asbestos-containing materials that is required by licence. ADL was fully aware of what types of activities are covered and knew perfectly well that it was illegal to undertake the work they did.

“Work with asbestos requires a high degree of regulatory control. It involves working with a category-one carcinogen, with asbestos-related diseases causing some 4,500 deaths each year in the UK, as well as many serious illnesses. When this type of work is undertaken by an unlicensed company, HSE has no ability to ensure it is done safely.

“Non-compliance with asbestos-licensing requirements is not acceptable and HSE will continue to enforce the law to protect both workers and members of the public.”