Essex Pub Acknowledges Mistakes in ‘Horrendous Freak Accident’ Leaving Woman in Coma
A Rayleigh pub faces a £35,000 fine after a serious accident left a woman in a coma, prompting safety reviews and changes.
Rayleigh, Essex, UK, Crafty Casks Taproom, Health and Safety, Accident
Rayleigh: A popular pub called Crafty Casks Taproom is in hot water after a terrible accident. A woman fell from an unguarded loading bay and ended up in a coma. It’s been a rough ride for everyone involved.
The pub got hit with a £35,000 fine after the incident, which happened back in 2022. The poor woman had to have emergency surgery and was put into an induced coma. Thankfully, she’s on the mend now.
Chris Smith, the pub owner, expressed relief about her recovery. He admitted they had some risk assessments but missed the mark on this one. It’s a tough lesson learned, and they’ve faced some serious consequences.
The council got wind of the situation and launched an investigation. They found several safety issues, like no guard rail on the platform and poor lighting. It was a big wake-up call for the pub.
Even after making some changes, the council decided to prosecute because of how serious the incident was. The case went to court, and the pub pleaded guilty to two charges related to safety regulations.
During the court hearing, it came out that there were multiple safety failings. They didn’t have proper lighting, and there were slipping hazards. It was a real mess.
Since then, the pub has taken steps to fix things. They’ve added permanent lighting, a safety gate, and rubber matting that won’t freeze. They’re trying to make sure nothing like this happens again.
The judge initially wanted to fine them £40,000 but lowered it to £20,000 after considering their situation. They also had to pay additional costs, bringing the total to £35,000.
Cllr Lisa Newport from the council emphasized how crucial it is for businesses to take safety seriously. She said the safety of everyone should always come first.
Mr. Smith shared how shocking the accident was. He rushed to the pub that night and quickly made changes to improve safety. He admitted they didn’t have a risk assessment for manual handling, which was a big oversight.
He described the incident as a freak accident, saying if the woman had just slipped differently, it wouldn’t have been so serious. It’s been a tough experience for everyone, and they genuinely care about their customers.
Now, they’ve invested a lot in safety measures, including a full fire alarm system. They’re determined to ensure that something like this never happens again. It’s been a hard lesson, but they’re committed to doing better.