Engineering company Alstom is to appeal against a recent decision from the Lille Regional Criminal Court to fine it over inhalation of asbestos dust risks.
The events in question concern the former site of Alstom Power Boilers (APB) at Lys-lez-Lannoy in Northern France between 1998 and 2001.
Alstom contests the court’s assertion that the activities carried out at the site equated to “the manufacture and transformation of products using asbestos” or “the containment and removal of asbestos.” In addition, Alstom argues that measures taken to prevent dust accumulation becoming a source of airborne asbestos on the shop floor were carried out by independent organisations and have been validated and proven to be compliant with the regulations.
Alstom further contests an accusation that it deliberately endangered the health of its employees.