A TEXTILE company was fined £6,500 by magistrates last week by breaching health and safety regulations.

Rentokil Initial Ltd (trading as Initial Textile Services), of Wessex Road Industrial Estate, Bourne End, were prosecuted by Wycombe District Council for allowing two men onto a roof which had no guard rails.

Council officers visited the site for a health and safety inspection on May 8, 2000.

The following day the council issued a prohibition notice to prevent people going onto the roof above the transport office as there was a risk of them falling off and sustaining serious personal injury.

The company was given the following options; to stop workers going onto the roof area, to introduce guard rails to prevent anyone falling or to come up with another solution together with Wycombe District Council.

However, in June, the company allowed two agency workers to go onto the roof without providing guard rails and therefore breached the notice, part of the Health & Safety at Work Act, the council said.

A spokesman for Wycombe District Council said: "Health and safety at work is a serious issue and companies need to understand that they are responsible for their employees and visitors.

"Communication in these matters is essential and managers must ensure that all members of the workforce are advised of any health and safety issues that affect them."

Rentokil Initial Ltd also had to pay costs of £1,833 after pleading guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the company said: "This was a very unfortunate situation where an employee chose to ignore a prohibition notice. The company informed the authorities immediately and the company's health and safety record has been exemplary up until now."