Astham Advice Helpline Industry News - Marks and Spencers to pay £20,000 fine plus compensation

An employee, of the high street retail giant Marks and Spencers, has been awarded £31,128 following an accident at work in March 2007. Timothy Payne, who was operating a goods-only scissor lift at the company’s Milton Keynes warehouse, lost part of his toe when the rising lift trapped and crushed his foot. The practice of ‘riding’ the lift system by employees was common and management was apparently aware of this according to Environmental Health Officers.

The company pled guilty to contravening sections 2(1) and 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 resulting in the imposition of a £20,000 fine by the magistrates court over and above the compensation payment to the victim. This was the first prosecution of a breach of health and safety rules by Marks and Spencers in 100 years of trading.