Cash and carry to pay more than £34,000 for ‘putting public at risk’

A Wolverhampton cash and carry has been ordered to pay more than £34,000 for using racking systems at risk of collapse on its shop floor.

STB Foods Ltd, based on Ettingshall Road, failed to comply with health and safety regulations, putting its employees and customers at risk, City of Wolverhampton Council said.

Following concerns noted during a food safety inspection, officers the council returned to the store to carry out a review and found food storage racks holding heavy goods to be bent, split, not fixed to flooring and at a risk of collapse.

The director of the store, Balbir Singh, attended Birmingham Magistrates Court on June 3 and pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations.

Singh also admitted the racking systems had not been checked for over 30 years.

Birmingham Magistrates Court fined the company £16,000 and ordered them to pay £18,728.45 in costs plus a £170 victim surcharge, bringing the total amount of £34,898,45 to be paid by 3 September..

During a follow up inspection, council officers confirmed the business has since replaced all damaged racks and has committed to carry out annual inspections.

Cllr Steve Evans, cabinet member for city environment at City of Wolverhampton Council said: “Not having stable apparatus in place puts customers and employees at serious risk of harm.

“I am pleased that the business admitted their responsibilities for the health and safety of the general public and its employees and has taken action to prevent any risks to occur.

“As a council, we always try to work with businesses to ensure they are taking health and safety seriously but will not hesitate to use the power of the law to keep the public safe and free from harm.

“I would like to thank the public protection team for their continued efforts to protect the people of Wolverhampton.”