Four volunteers at the Haig Colliery Mining Museum in Whitehaven, Cumbria, have been charged with health and safety breaches at the museum. They were due to appear at Whitehaven Magistrates Court at the end of last month.

The four, Andrew Ainsworth, John Greasley, Anthony Hail and Barry Prest, are trustees of the Haig Pit Restoration Group. Each are faced with ten separate health and safety offences relating to the handling and control of asbestos fibres. The case is being brought by Copeland Borough Council.

The allegations include: failure to assess the risk of asbestos to employees and contractors at the museum; a failure to remove the asbestos safely; and a failure to prepare a suitable written plan of how to undertake work with asbestos.

Greasley is also charged on three separate counts, including the disposal by burning of asbestos in a manner likely to cause pollution or harm, by the Environment Agency.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place between 19 March and 5 April 2003.

The case was first in court in February, and again in March this year, but was adjourned to allow the defence to gather expert evidence.