Stephen Wilks, A self-employed roofing contractor, has been ordered to conduct unpaid labour after being responsible for uncontrolled spread of asbestos in the back garden of a customer.
As a result, two employees and nearby homeowners were exposed and put at significant risk.
The incident was captured on video thanks to a doorbell camera, showing parts of an old garage roof being disposed of in a regular domestic wheelie bin.
Stephen Wilks, trading as S Wilks Roofing, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) and Regulation 16 of The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, after work carried out under his control resulted in the contamination of a residential area with asbestos-containing materials.
Such materials require careful preparation and safety measures to prevent exposure to asbestos and spread of its fibres while working without a licence.
After a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation, Wilks – trading as S Wilks Roofing – pleaded guilty to breaching the above regulations, as they mandate strict safety measures when working with this dangerous material.
On March 28, 2025, a hearing was held at Ashton-Under-Lyne Magistrates Court. Wilks was given a 12-month Community Order, ordered to perform 200 hours of unpaid work, and directed to pay costs of £3,582.13.
The court was informed that Wilks had been commissioned by a property management company to replace cement roof sheets containing asbestos on three garages off Green Walk in Bowden, Altrincham in February of 2022.
The HSE investigation was launched after a nearby household complained about debris which had fallen into their garden during the works. It was revealed after analysis that chrysotile asbestos formed part of the debris.
HSE inspectors found:
- Ripped bags of asbestos waste stored in an area accessible to the public in front of the garages, with asbestos-containing contaminating nearby undergrowth after materials had spilled onto the ground.
- Nearby residents’ personal belongings stored in the garages had also been contaminated by the debris.
Following the incident, a certified asbestos removal contractor had to be hired to safely remove the debris and thoroughly clean the affected areas.
HSE Inspector Phil Redman stated:
“This was a serious incident that put Mr. Wilks, those working under his control, and members of the public, at risk from the potential harmful effects of being exposed to asbestos-containing materials.
“We encourage duty holders to make sure they have complete control over the dangers involved in removing asbestos-containing materials that do not need to be removed by a certified asbestos removal contractor.”
The Health and Safety Executive’s ‘Asbestos and You’ campaign
The HSE’s ‘Asbestos and You’ campaign exists to remind tradespeople about the risks posed by asbestos and the critical importance of safe handling.
It also provides comprehensive guidance for employers and their staff about working safely with asbestos, including:
- Information on how to identify asbestos
- What to do if you find it
- The appropriate safety measures needed when working with or around asbestos-containing materials
Before commencing work that could disturb asbestos, workers in trades including construction, maintenance, demolition, and installation should ensure that necessary training has been undertaken.
Further reading
For some information about accidents at work, check out this page.
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