Store fined £10,000 after customer slip

A FOOD store was fined £10,000 after a customer slipped on a wet floor and broke her hip.

Judy Godson suffered then injury at Heron Foods, a shop attached to Tommyfield Market in Albion Street, Oldham, on November 9, 2011.

A member of staff had cleaned the floor in the bread aisle a few minutes earlier in preparation for the store to close at 5.30pm.

Not realising she was in danger, as no wet-floor signs had been put up, Ms Godson slipped and injured her left hip.

She underwent hospital treatment and operations, and as a result of the fall her left leg is now 3.5cm shorter than her right.

Heron Foods, a family-run firm, has operated from the unit for more than 12 years and has more than 170 food shops across the North of England, employing 2,500 staff.

The company pleaded guilty to two charges of contravening health and safety regulations after it was discovered the staff regularly cleaned the floor while the shop was still open.

Two members of staff said that a wet-floor sign had been put up at the front of the store, but owners of the company have since agreed that staff should never wet-clean the floor while the shop is open, unless in the case of a spillage.

Peter Smith, defending, said: “The owners of Heron Foods are very sorry for the injury Ms Godson suffered. They are a very responsible company and have fully co-operated with these proceedings.”

Oldham magistrates fined the firm £5,000 for each offence, with costs of £1,790, plus a £15 victim surcharge.