Faulty step fine

Prosecutions and Claims |
01.04.2007

Failure to act over a faulty step and dangerous wiring has landed a Cornwall furniture shop a £7,000 penalty. Environmental health officers visited Celtic Pine and Oak in Wadebridge in January last year. They found a defective step which posed a trip hazard, dangerous electrical wiring in a store cupboard, and no manual handling risk assessments. Despite further inspections and an enforcement notice, proprietors John and Melanie MacDonald failed to carry out the necessary works, so officers decided to prosecute. On 31 January, the MacDonalds pleaded guilty before Liskeard magistrates to four health and safety offences, and were fined £7,050 plus full costs of £1,295.