Superdrug fined for work experience injury

Jocelyn Dorrell | Prosecutions and Claims |
26.09.2008

Health and beauty retailer Superdrug has been fined £8000 after a schoolboy's hand became trapped in a conveyor system.

The boy had been using the conveyor to move items from the ground floor up to the first floor during work experience at Superdrug's Beverley store in May 2007. The fire service had to be called to free him.

Inspectors from East Riding Council found that the conveyor system did not meet industry standards and staff had not been adequately trained.

On top of the fine, Beverley magistrates ordered Superdrug to pay £2649 costs.

Research commissioned by the HSE recently into the extent of risk aversion in UK workplaces found that one in five manufacturing and services companies surveyed had restricted school work-experience placements.