A LAUNCESTON company was fined £12,400 at Bodmin Magistrates' Court on November 4 after pleading guilty to contravening health and safety regulations.
Redmoor Limited of Well Warehouse, Pennygillam Industrial Estate, Launceston pleaded guilty to failing to ensure they complied with the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.
The company was fined £6,000 for failing to prepare and, as often as may be appropriate, revise a written statement of their general policy with respect to the health and safety at work of their employees and failing to bring the statement to the notice of all their employees.
COSTS
Redmoor Limited also pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that every floor in the workplace and surface of every traffic route was suitable for its purpose in that the main warehouse floor was uneven and in need of repair.
The company also admitted not maintaining a step ladder in an efficient state; failing to ensure that ladders used to access high racks or shelving were suitable for the purpose for which they were provided; failing to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees; not reviewing and updating a health and safety policy in accordance with an improvement notice dated July 24, 2007, and not carrying out the matters set out in the improvement notice.
They were fined a total of £12,400 and were ordered to pay £4,230 costs to North Cornwall District Council.
Cllr Linda Spear, Chair of the NCDC Community Services Committee, said after the case: "The fines awarded by the Magistrates reflect the seriousness of this case. We do try to work with businesses, but if they do not take the appropriate steps to protect the safety of their workers and ignore our advice we will not hesitate to take formal action through the courts in the public interest where necessary."
Senior Environmental Health Practitioner, Tony Pepperell, said: "Maintaining a good standard of health and safety in the workplace should be seen as the norm, as the benefits are clear.
"If you reduce safety risks this results in fewer accidents and overall reduced business operating costs in terms of lower employee absenteeism through workplace injury. Research has demonstrated that healthy employees are more motivated and can contribute to increased business performance."