20/02/2017
In a tragic incident, a 10-year-old boy named as Kaden Reddick, was killed on the first day of his half-term when an item of store display allegedly fell on him, causing him to suffer serious head injuries.
He died in Royal Berkshire Hospital shortly upon arrival.
Detectives are now working to piece together what happened.
Tragic Similarities
The incident has tragic similarities to a 2013 when a four-year-old boy was crushed to death by a 114kg (18 stone) changing-room mirror that fell on him in a Hugo Boss store at Bicester Outlet shopping village.
The child suffered irreversible brain damage and died four days later.
The luxury fashion company was subsequently fined £1.2 million for health and safety breaches.
According to a report in the Guardian, on fining the company, judge, Peter Ross, said,
“it would have been obvious to the untrained eye” that the mirror posed a risk, saying it was, “nothing short of a miracle” that it had not fallen before.
Meeting health and safety compliance
These cases highlight that all shop owners must conduct thorough risk assessments on a regular basis to ensure customers are safe from harm. A well-drafted health and safety policy should be drawn up and referenced regularly during all staff training.
If an incident does occur, it is crucial to engage an emergency response team who can investigate the incident on your behalf and liaise with the police and HSE officials. The team can also advise you on your rights when it comes to dealing with HSE officials and guide you through the process they will follow during their investigation.
Fisher Scoggins Waters are a London based law firm who are specialise in construction, manufacturing and engineering matters. If you have recently had a health and safety incident occur in your workplace and require legal advice, please phone us on 0207 993 6960.
Or if you require help and information about health and safety risk assessment policies and procedures call Dr Louise Smail on 0161 445 7872.