
Audio By Carbonatix
Tesco has been fined more than £500,000 after a 10-year-old child was electrocuted by a freezer unit.
The child suffered a small burn, chest and leg pains after they reached to get an ice lolly from the freezer at a store in Warfield, Bracknell.
The Public Protection Service said a live wire had become damaged and exposed and was sticking out under a rail on the freezer.
Tesco fined £500,000 after child electrocutedhttps://t.co/Rulf5PzbLx
— BBC South (@BBCSouthNews) December 18, 2020
The supermarket giant pleaded guilty to two health and safety offences.
It was fined £268,000 for each offence at Reading Magistrates Court.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service said an investigation found the incident in July 2017 happened after staff failed to fix an issue with the electrical supply to a glass heating element under a handrail on the front of the freezer.
Subsequent reviews of records showed the freezer's rail was known to be loose and had temporary fixes of glue or tape months prior to the accident.
Councillor John Harrison, head of public protection at Bracknell Forest Council, said the investigation "revealed significant breaches of health and safety legislation".
Tesco was sentenced on Tuesday and ordered to pay costs of £25,750.91.
Latest Stories
-
Manhyia South MP recounts alleged attempt to forcibly take him to EOCO
10 minutes -
‘I had to drive off to safety’ – Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah on why he fled after High Court clash
15 minutes -
Nkrumah was a lonely man because of Pan-African vision – PLO Lumumba
20 minutes -
P.L.O Lumumba calls for end to ‘primitive accumulation’ in public office
22 minutes -
Attempted arrest of Manhyia South MP in that manner a retrogression in Ghana’s democracy – Martin Kpebu
27 minutes -
Peace in an age of fragmentation: Why global cooperation matters more than ever
31 minutes -
Nkrumah’s vision for African dignity remains relevant – P.L.O. Lumumba
49 minutes -
Court jails mason 4 years for GH¢44,800 fraud
50 minutes -
Ghana, Norway seek closer trade and security ties after UNGA talks
57 minutes -
AG responds to $235m Teshie desalination award, says tribunal rejected $402m claim
1 hour -
Chiefs can help stop galamsey where government enforcement struggles – KNUST Professor
1 hour -
Mahama’s rekindling Ghana’s Pan-African role echoing Nkrumah’s vision – P.L.O. Lumumba
1 hour -
Gov’t already in advanced talks to buy Teshie desalination plant to avert $235m payout
1 hour -
Tema-Kpone road had no valid contract or approved scope of work – Roads Minister
1 hour -
You pay for electricity, water but not roads – Roads Minister chides Tema companies
1 hour