Boots fined £10,000 for Welshpool trap door fall

Retail giant Boots has been fined £10,000 by magistrates after a pensioner fell down an unguarded trap-door at a branch in Mid Wales.

The company, which has 2,500 stores nationwide, admitted a health and safety offence and failing to assess the risk at its Welshpool store.

Wrexham Magistrates Court, sitting at Mold, yesterday heard how the Boots store in Welshpool occupied a 100-year-old building in Broad Street.

The electricity meters were in the cellar and when the meter reader called, the trap door was opened to allow him access.

On May 5 last year, a member of staff who had not been trained, was supposed to be standing guard at the trap door, but she was distracted by a customer.

Martin Habberley, 76, was looking around the store and suddenly fell into the hole, falling down three steps and gashing his leg, the court was told.

Boots UK Ltd was fined £5,000 on both charges and was ordered to pay £1,240 costs.

Magistrates said they accepted Boots had a comprehensive and excellent health and safety record generally and regular reviews were carried out.

David Charlton, for Boots, said senior management had not been aware of the issue which was unique to the Welshpool store.

He said the issue was taken very seriously and the company's national health and safety manager was present in court along with the regional health and safety manager and other company officials.

Mr Charlton said the Welshpool store had scored very well in its health and safety audit. Once the accident happened, immediate steps were taken to ensure it could not happen again. The meters were now read when the store was closed.