A major supermarket chain acting as CDM Client under the 2015 Regulations has received a combined fine of over half a million pounds after serious failings led to the fall of a worker through a fragile skylight 10 metres to the floor below.
CDM Client fined £500k over lack of pre-construction information
Tesco Stores Ltd and Tesco Maintenance Ltd were both found guilty of the offence at Liverpool Crown Court with Judge Steven Everett reported to have commented that it was “a minor miracle” the worker had not died or been seriously injured after landing on shelving in the soft drinks section. He was then helped by customers and colleagues and taken to the nearby walk-in centre for treatment.
The judge also pointed out that customers could also have been hurt and although the workman was not seriously injured it was “the risk of harm that was the issue” adding, “it is astonishing that there wasn’t a fall of this nature on an earlier occasion.”
Half a million pound fine for Tesco
- Tesco Stores Ltd – of Tesco House Welwyn Garden City, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 10 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and was fined £200,000 with £712.70 costs.
“What went wrong was that both companies failed to identify it had fragile roof panels. There were procedures but on this occasion they were not implemented.”