Tesco fined for failing to report accidents

Supermarket Tesco was recently fined £48,000 for health and safety breaches after a successful prosecution by Bracknell Forest Council.

The Council’s environmental health team prosecuted the company over charges relating to the unloading and loading of vehicles at its Warfield store.

It was found that Tesco failed to provide a safe working system relating to the loading and unloading of vehicles; failed to provide information, instruction, training and supervision to operational and managerial staff relating to the loading and unloading of vehicles; and failed to eradicate the use of an unsafe practice, namely the use of a metal plate to unload vehicles.

It was also revealed that the supermarket failed to properly report three staff accidents at work – at two different stores in the Bracknell Forest area.

Tesco admitted the charges and was fined a total of £48,000 plus the council was awarded £25,000 in legal costs. A £15 victim surcharge was also made against the company.

David Steeds, head of environmental health at Bracknell Forest Council, said: “It’s vital that companies stick to health and safety rules so their employees remain out of danger at work. Unfortunately, Tesco failed to keep to these rules and as a result employees were injured, quite seriously in one of the cases, or put in harms way.

“I’m pleased Tesco admitted the charges in court and that the magistrates sitting agreed the charges were serious enough to warrant a £48,000 fine plus £25,000 costs. I hope this sends a warning to all companies that health and safety measures should be in place and followed or else we will prosecute them on behalf of the welfare of their staff.”

A spokesperson for Tesco told Workplace Law: “The safety of our employees is a priority and we took immediate and effective action to prevent this from happening again.”