A commercial property landlord has been fined after exposing construction workers to asbestos.

A commercial property landlord allowed construction workers to be exposed to asbestos during the refurbishment of an industrial unit in Bristol.

Bristol Magistrates Court heard that Frank Bruce & Company, which rents out industrial premises, had contracted two construction firms to replace and repaint roofs at Lawrence Hill Industrial Park between February and March 2009.

Frank Bruce and Company planned the work and was aware that asbestos was present in the roof insulation of the building.

But it did not warn the subcontractors about the asbestos, and failed to appoint a licensed contractor to remove the asbestos.

No safety precautions were put in place before work began. Consequently, seven workers were exposed to the deadly substance.

Frank Bruce and Company pleaded guilty to breaching Reg. 14 of the Construction Regulations 2007 and Reg. 4(10) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.

The company was fined £18,000 and ordered to pay £6,679 in costs.