Eaterie staff used ‘rickety ladder’ to avoid dirtying carpet
AN INDIAN restaurant has been fined after forcing staff to use a “rickety ladder” to avoid dirtying a stairway carpet.
Q’min restaurant in Merthyr Tydfil has been fined more than £3,000 after staff were found in “shocking” working conditions in an unannounced visit by environmental health officers.
During their visit, officers were told by employees they were not allowed to use the internal staircase during building works as they would “dirty the restaurant carpet”.
Merthyr Magistrates’ Court heard that staff had been expected to carry stock to and from the kitchen via an external rickety wooden ladder and unguarded metal staircase during all weather conditions and at night.
Following the inspection on July 4, a legal notice was put in place banning the use of the walkways to protect staff at the Caeharris restaurant from potential injury.
The company, based on High Street, pleaded guilty to three offences including failure to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of employees, failure to provide suitable and sufficient handrails and guards on staircases, flooring and traffic routes used by staff, and failure to make and record the findings of a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of employees to which they are exposed while at work.
The business was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge and £250 costs.
Restaurant manager Joref Miah pleaded guilty to two of the three offences and was fined £535 and ordered to pay a £53 victim surcharge and £250 costs.
Susan Gow, county borough council environmental health manager, said: “The working conditions in this case were shocking. This case highlights the importance of unannounced visits to businesses which are fundamental in protecting the health and wellbeing of employees and the public.”
She added: “Companies and managers must ensure that they do not endanger their employees whilst at work.
“Some sectors of the workforce are low paid and fearful for their jobs. This can create a health and safety culture where employees are reticent to complain about poor health and safety standards at their workplace. This prosecution must send a message to businesses that there will be serious consequences if health and safety laws are breached and staff are placed at unacceptable risk whilst at work.”
Councillor Geraint Thomas, cabinet member for regeneration and public protection, said: “It is a statutory requirement that all businesses have a safe working environment for every one of its employees. Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council takes all breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act very seriously.”