Asbestos fine for ship firm

A SHIP management firm has been fined after workers were exposed to asbestos fibres during refurbishment work.

Andrew Weir Shipping Ltd, which is based in the West End, and West Sussex firm All Leisure Holidays Ltd had arranged for the work to be carried out to reduce the amount of combustible material on a ship docked in ­Middlesborough.

But Teesside Magistrates’ Court was told two self-employed labourers had been hired to remove ceiling panels and wooden fixings without carrying out the required asbestos survey.

Andrew Weir Shipping Ltd, of Atholl Crescent, was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £5829.15 costs.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Victoria Wise said the firms had failed to ensure a suitable risk assessment was carried out.