Trapdoor injury costs River Island £11,000

Prosecutions and Claims |
22.09.2008

Clothing retailer River Island has admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act after an employee at its Leamington store suffered a serious head injury and was off work for nearly eight months.

Stafford magistrates heard that on 24 January the employee went into the window display area, which was accessed via a staircase with two trapdoors at the top. There was no means of securing the doors - which weighed more than 15kg each - in an open position.

One of the doors fell, hitting the employee's head and trapping it against the window display floor.

She suffered "post head injury syndrome", which caused persistent headaches and tiredness.

Inspectors from Warwick District Council found that River Island had failed to ensure there was a safe means of accessing the window display area.

Imposing a fine of £8000 plus £3030 prosecution costs, Stafford magistrates acknowledged that the retailer had cooperated fully with the council during its investigation and had taken steps to avoid a repeat incident.