From Bristol 24-7
Swedish furniture giant Ikea has been fined £80,000 after a worker at its Bristol store suffered multiple injuries in an accident.
Philip Edgecombe broke two bones in his left arm and dislocated his shoulder while driving a forklift truck in the store.
The mast of the truck collided with a horizontal racking beam as Mr Edgecombe drove it between two aisles. The truck came to a sudden stop, throwing him from the vehicle.
Bristol City Council’s public health services team brought the case against Ikea after investigating the accident at the Eastville store in July 2010.
Ikea pleaded guilty to four health and safety offences at Bristol Magistrates Court. Each breach received the maximum fine of £20,000, plus costs of more than £8,000.
Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods Cllr Guy Poultney said: “Businesses have to ensure the safety of their staff. It’s good to see that in this case the judge recognised the severity of the offences and gave the maximum fine.
“Ikea have accepted responsibility for the accident and made changes to make sure it won’t happen again. The public health services team are happy to work with businesses to help them make sure they have good safety measures in place to protect their employees, and the public.”
