Cash and carry firm handed £ 120k fine
ACASH and c a r r y company has been f i n e d a m a s s iv e £ 120,000 over an employee breaking his skull after falling through a fragile plasterboard ceiling.
Roman Khan, 24, plunged more than 15 feet from a mezzanine on to the concrete floor at Alfa Wholesale Limited in Anderson, Glasgow, on November 5, 2017.
Mr Khan’s skull was fractured and he suffered bleeding on the brain as a result of the horror fall.
Alfa Wholesale Limited admitted responsibility for failing to acknowledge the dangers posed by the plasterboard.
The court heard Mr Khan’s wife, a trainee GP, had to put her career on hold to look after him during his recovery.
The company, which has a yearly turnover of more than £ 18 million, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of its employees.
Sheriff Joseph Platt order the company to pay £ 25,000 within a month.
The rest of the fine will be paid at £ 8640 a month for 11 months.
Sheriff Platt said: “This was a serious offence leading to grave consequences for the victim.
“The risk was known and had persisted for a number years.
“The instalments it of
will provide a monthly reminder to the directors of the failure to deal adequately with the risk for which Mr Khan has paid, and will continue to pay, a high price.”
The court heard Mr Khan was alone in the mezzanine area collecting stock when he stepped on to the plasterboard.
Prosecutor Lynne Jamieson said: “He fell a distance of 5.6 metres on to the concrete floor.”
A colleague heard a bang and found Mr Khan on the ground unconscious.
Mr Khan was
“unresponsive” and was diagnosed as having a skull fracture and bleeding.
He also sustained a bruised right lung and rib fractures and spent seven weeks in hospital.
Miss Jamieson said: “He had difficulties swallowing, was unable to walk, had problems tasting food, hearing loss and required a wheelchair.
“He had no memory of the incident and has been left with difficulties maintaining concentration and hearing impairment.”
The company paid for therapy for Mr Khan.
Miss Jamieson said: “The incident happened as a result of the company’s failure to identify the risk of staff accessing the stock stored near to the fragile plasterboard ceiling on the mezzanine area.”
It was also revealed that earlier risk assessments failed to flag up the dangers.
Lawyer Callum Jamieson, defending, apologised to Mr Khan and his family on behalf of the company.
He stated the company “overlooked” the risk. had