30
Jun 2016
Aldi Fined £100,000
Supermarket chain giant, Aldi, has been fined £100,000 for its first ever health and safety conviction. Contractor, Wilkinson Maintenance, was also fined after an un-secured smoking shelter was blown by the wind and an employee was subsequently injured.
An employee was taking a cigarette break outside Aldi’s Distribution Centre in Faverdale when a gust of wind picked the unsecured smoking shelter up and injured the employee.
The employee received injuries to his back and arms and Aldi was prosecuted by Darlington Borough Council.
Both Aldi and Wilkinson Maintenance pleaded guilty to a charge under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. Aldi was fined £100,000 and Wilkinson Maintenance was fined £20,000.
Aldi up to this point had an unblemished health and safety record and Wilkinson Maintenance made a public apology on record. The Judge in this case did state that both Aldi and Wilkinson Maintenance had an impeccable character which was considered when setting the level of fine.
This case is an important lesson for companies. It is vital to show that companies take health and safety seriously so that, should an accident happen, your legal team can point to good character in order to reduce any subsequent fine.
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