Sainsbury’s fined £1,000,000 for accident involving serious facial injuries
Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Limited was fined £1,000,000 on 2nd March 2022 after a member of public collided with black and white baler twine whilst riding her mobility scooter at its Newbury store at Hectors Way in June 2020.
Sainsbury’s was sentenced at Reading Magistrates’ Court on 2nd March 2022 after pleading guilty to one health and safety offence relating to an incident on 21st June 2020. Sainsbury’s was fined £1,000,000 and ordered to pay a victim’s surcharge of £190 and costs of £18,263.62.
Sainsbury’s was prosecuted following an investigation by officers from the Council’s Public Protection Partnership supported by West Berkshire Council legal team.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic Sainsbury’s had implemented a queuing system at the Newbury store to enable customers to queue safely and in a socially distanced manner at the front of the store. This comprised of a theme park, snake like queuing system demarcated by a mixture of metal and plastic temporary barriers, spaced apart and baler twine had been used as part of the queue management system. This type of baler twine is more commonly used for securing cardboard once it has been crushed into bales and has a high tensile strength intended not to break easily. The reason for using the twine was to replace light weight red and white plastic security tape as the barriers were being blown over by wind and vandalised.
On the 21st June 2020, the victim rode her scooter towards the queue management system and through a perceived gap where the baler twine had been strung between two structural pillars which support the upper deck level of the car park. She suffered serious facial injuries including fractures to her jaw and damage to her teeth. The incident was reported to staff who immediately administered first aid and an ambulance was called, taking the victim to hospital. The twine was immediately removed and a message sent to all other stores. Sainsbury’s has confirmed that the baler twine was not being used in this way in any other store.
Cllr Hilary Cole, West Berkshire Executive Member for Housing, Strategic Partnership and Transformation said, ‘This was a serious accident which is clearly reflected in the penalty. It is important that all employers have robust risk assessments and they are effectively implemented’
Anyone wishing to report any matters of this nature or any other public protection matter can contact the service on 01635 503242.
Further information is available at https://publicprotectionpartnership.org.uk/
