DIY giant B&Q must pay out almost £50,000 for a "freak accident" at its Broadwater store which seriously injured one man and left three others needing medical attention.
Ian Dixey, prosecuting, told Chichester Crown Court on Monday that B&Q had failed in its duty of care to customers and a paramedic who were injured by stock which fell from the top of shelving at the Lyons Farm superstore on June 5, 2004.
Stuart Lednor, 48, from Lancing, suffered head injuries, a broken thigh and a fractured ankle after being hit by a cascade of kitchen doors which fell 15ft from the top of a storage rack.
His partner, Julie Forrest, was struck on the head by falling flat-packed boxes as she went to help him. Another customer, Mark Greening, was also hit as he went to assist the stricken couple.
Paramedic David Wells attended 10 minutes later and was told by staff the scene was secure. But as he injected Mr Lednor with pain relief, he, too, was hit a when yet another box fell, injuring his shoulders and spine.
In sentencing, Judge Wood described the events as "a freak accident" and said he was impressed by B&Q's attitude to safety issues and its own investigation into what occurred to cause the accident. He ordered B&Q to pay £33,641.14 costs in addition to a £15,000 fine.
No comments:
Post a Comment