Tesco have been fined £160,000 after an employee working alone was seriously injured after a roll cage, which required two people to manoeuvre, fell on him during unloading. The case highlights the importance of employees completing risk assessments, after Tesco was found to have ignored its own internal risk assessments.
The employee was working alone unloading roll cages from a delivery vehicle at the Tesco Express store in Chadwell St Mary in Essex on 30th September 2015. The roll cage fell on top of him as he was moving it into the store, resulting in a broken pelvis.
Upon investigation, Thurrock Council found that Tesco had ignored its own risk assessments which required two people to use the roll cages. Tesco pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act, was fined £160,000 and ordered to pay £18,118 in costs.
The Council pointed out that Tesco had a previous conviction for a similar offence where a lone worker was allowed to move a roll cage at their Waverley store in Surrey. The worker broke their foot and Tesco was fine £20,000 in 2013.
Conducting risk assessments is simple, especially with easy-to-use yet thorough risk assessment tools such as SG World's Risk Assessment Book. However, having employees engaged in a culture of safe behaviour, including following risk assessments and other internal health and safety procedures, can be a challenge in itself.
SG World's BSafe range inspires colleagues to adopt a culture of safe behaviour in a way that is engaging and relevant. With items from signage and posters to pens, keyring and bags, there is something to suit any company and their budget. Email SG World to find out more or call 01270 588211. You can also sign up to our Health and Safety E-newsletter for free health and safety posters to download and display at your site.