Marks and Spencer has been fined a total £31,113 after a worker lost part of their toe in a warehouse incident. Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court heard that Timothy Payne was using a goods-only scissor lift in March 2007. The rising lift trapped his left foot, crushing it, and the tip of his big toe had to be amputated.
The firm admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and received the maximum fine possible. A total of £31,128 compensation was also agreed with the victim.
Environmental health officers from Milton Keynes Council visited the warehouse and discovered that "riding" the lift, which is designed only to lift goods, was common practice and management was aware of this failing. Magistrate chair Marie Brock said the company's risk assessment and signage was not good enough and that there had been a failure at local level to follow procedures.
