A Solihull building firm has been fined £1,000 after failing to take precautions against asbestos while working at a school.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the company after bosses at Greswolde Construction Ltd of Station Road, Knowle, failed to warn its employees that the substance was present despite being in possession of a survey detailing where the asbestos was.

The company pleaded guilty to a breach of regulation 10(1) and one of 11(1)(a) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006. As well as the fine it was also ordered to pay £2,268 costs.

Stratford-upon-Avon Magistrates Court heard how on 9 July 2009 the firm was contracted to carry out building work on an extension at Rokeby Primary School in Rugby.

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Three employees were carrying out the work when they disturbed an area containing asbestos. Despite the company being in possession of a Type 3 Asbestos Survey detailing the materials that were disturbed, and the fact that children were occupying adjacent classrooms, it still gave the go ahead for the workers to begin to strip out the area.

None of workers had been informed of the presence of asbestos on the site and had not received asbestos awareness training or protection.

HSE inspector Paul Cooper said: "The dangers of asbestos are well known in the building industry so for the managers of Greswolde Construction not to inform their employees of its presence shows a complete disregard for their safety and wellbeing.

"What makes it worse is that this work was being carried out in a primary school where young children were in the next room.

"We can't stress enough how important it is for anyone carrying out building work to obtain the proper asbestos surveys and then act upon them."

(CD/BMCC)