The owner of a farm shop has been ordered by magistrates to pay £10,000 in fines and costs after admitting three separate health and safety offences (Photos on Flickr).
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Andrew Eastwood of Yerbeston Gate Farm Shop, Cresselly, was prosecuted by Pembrokeshire County Council, following an investigation by health and safety officers from the Authority’s Public Protection Division.
Magistrates in Haverfordwest on Monday (9th January) heard that during June, 2009, an employee received an electric shock when the top of an electrical plug came away as it was removed from a socket.
As a result, the employee was absent from work for a time.
During the subsequent investigation, health and safety officers discovered a lack of fixed electrical sockets along with evidence of further defects in portable electrical equipment, including damage to cables exposing the wire core.
It was therefore considered there was a lack of adequate inspection and maintenance at that time.
Following the local authority’s intervention, new electrical sockets were installed, the electrical wiring and equipment at the premises were tested by a qualified engineer, and a health and safety audit regime established.
Two related charges brought under Section Two of the Health and Safety at Work Act for failing to ensure the health and safety of employees and under the Electricity at Work Regulations for failing to maintain electrical appliances, resulted in fines of £2,000 for each offence.
A guilty plea was also entered to a further charge after it was found that an unguarded flat roof used for storing stock above two walk-in chillers was being accessed by employees via an unsuitable ladder.
The court was told that the practice was found to have resumed despite previous warnings given by officers although it has since stopped.
This offence resulted in further fine of £2,500.
Total costs of £3,500 were awarded to the Council while Eastwood was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15.
After the hearing, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services, Councillor Ken Rowlands, said the case highlighted the importance of ensuring the safety of employees.
He went on: “Electrical hazards are well known and employers must ensure that suitable checks are established and maintained. This does not necessarily mean that all equipment has to be tested every year.
“By simply adopting a system of looking for visible signs of damage or faults and putting them right, employers can prevent most electrical accidents from occurring. Around 95 per cent of faults or damage can be found by visual inspection.”
Councillor Rowlands added: “If roof areas are to be used for storage then it is important to ensure that they are suitably load-bearing, suitably fenced and lit with a safe means of access for employees.
“Health and safety issues are routinely portrayed in the media as being superfluous and an unnecessary burden to businesses. This case clearly shows that basic health and safety is very important to ensure the safety of employees.”
