Marks and Spencer have been fined a huge £1 million after a Health and Safety Executive prosecution for events involving asbestos at their Reading store.

The judge heard that the company had cut many corners on safety issues whilst carrying out substantial renovations at its store. Their actions led to the collapse of a ceiling possibly containing asbestos tiles during opening hours.

The judge was highly critical of the company’s approach to asbestos. He made reference to the known dangers of asbestos exposure and the risk to the public which had occurred. He made the claim that the company had valued the appearance of the store during the renovations above the risk to the public from the asbestos.

The fine is one of the highest to be ordered against a company in the UK for an asbestos-related offence.