A GARAGE owner has been fined after repeatedly ignoring warnings to improve safety for his workers.

Richard Grant, a director of Scuffs Plus in Bacon Lane, Edgware, failed to initially produce a safety examination certificate for a pressure system compressor showing it was safe for use.

He ignored repeated letters asking for the document form the Health and Safety Executive, after the visit in May 2009, and was served with an improvement notice in October that year.

In January 2010 inspectors visited again and Mr Grant told them he would not use the equipment until he had it certified, but at another visit a month later it was still being used without a certificate.

HSE Inspector Jack Wilby said: “Richard Grant flagrantly disregarded his duties to comply with health and safety regulations, showing little respect for the risks to others from pressure systems.

“Despite having more than ten months to put things right and receiving written and verbal advice explaining his duties and how he could comply, he chose to do nothing.

“To make matters worse, Scuff Plus was also given an extension on the improvement notice served, which it breached. This cavalier attitude to safety is entirely unacceptable.”

At City of London Magistrates Court he was given a 12 month conditional discharge and fined £500 for the breach.