Canberra building firm Dream Haus Pty Ltd was convicted of disrupting asbestos in the ACT Industrial Court and fined $400,000 on Friday.

Dream Haus has been convicted of two Category 2 offences under the Work Health and Safety Act and  charges relate to Dream Haus disrupting materials containing asbestos during a renovation at a property in Chapman on November 2, 2022.

The court found the company failed to comply with its health and safety duties, placing workers and the public at risk.

ASIC records that Dream Haus Pty Ltd was wound up late last year.

During sentencing on Friday, Magistrate James Lawton said: “There are aggravating features with both… lack of communication was a main factor in both charges… not following their own safe work method statement.

“The use of asbestos materials was in construction throughout the ACT for many years, and the costs of preliminary testing is low.”

Acting WHS Commissioner Peggy Cheong said duty holders who failed to meet their obligations would  face serious consequences. WorkSafe ACT would continue its efforts to identify and hold accountable businesses that recklessly endangered the safety of their employees.

WorkSafe ACT had issued about $1.5 million in fines for successful prosecutions since August.