HIGH PRICE TO PAY FOR DODGY ASBESTOS TRANSPORTATION

29 March 2010

A Geelong man, Joshua Luke Marshall, was today convicted and fined $5,000 for operating a business that transported asbestos waste, without the correct EPA Victoria permit.

Mr Marshall pleaded guilty to a charge in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court relating to an incident in January 2009.

The Court heard that Mr Marshall who operated a demolition and asbestos removal business was engaged to undertake a demolition job involving the removal of asbestos sheeting in the laundry and bathroom of a private residence.

Mr Marshall told the owner of the private residence he was qualified to remove asbestos.

The Court heard that when Mr Marshall started the demolition job, he was not wearing protective clothing and had failed to seal off the area where the work was taking place, while the owner sat in a room just metres away from where the work was being undertaken. He removed the asbestos sheeting and put it into his truck.

A WorkSafe inspector responding to an anonymous complaint about unsafe asbestos removal arrived at the house, while Mr Marshall was undertaking the work.

EPA Victoria’s director of client services, Wayne Robins said Mr Marshall had approached EPA four years prior to clarify the requirements for vehicle permits to transport asbestos.

“An EPA officer took Mr Marshall through the requirements and advised him to visit the office to obtain the necessary forms, which he never did,” Mr Robins said.

“Mr Marshall’s prior enquiries would suggest he was aware of EPA’s requirements. The fact he has chosen to operate a business that involved the transport of asbestos waste without an EPA permit shows little regard for people’s safety and environmental regulations.

“If you operate a business that involves the transport of prescribed waste, you need an EPA permit – it doesn’t get more simple than that.”

Mr Marshall was also ordered to pay EPA’s costs of $7,921.