Builders liability insurance holders have been reminded of the dangers of their trade after a shop fitting company was fined following five workers being exposed to potentially deadly asbestos fibres.
Eastern Regional Shopfitters, based in Cambridgeshire, admitted to three breaches of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, and was fined £4,000.
Trafford Magistrates Court heard how the firm ignored a report which stated that asbestos was present in a shop it was working on.
Two workers spent five days ripping out old fittings at Manchester's Arndale Centre in October 2009, while three management staff were also potentially exposed to the fibres during routine checks.
Tom Merry, Health and Safety Executive inspector, said: "Eastern Regional Shopfitters knew asbestos was present in the shop but it didn’t inform its workers and it didn’t ensure it was dealt with safely."
Earlier this month, Acetech Construction was prosecuted after putting its workers at risk of exposure to asbestos containing materials, builders liability insurance holders were told.