Cineworld, the cinema giant, have been ordered to pay more than £12 000 after two of their workers received electric shocks from a popcorn warmer.
On 4 December 2013, a worker received a shock from the popcorn machine. The worker informed management, but they took no action and did not make other staff members aware of the fault.
Later on in the day another worker was shocked when he turned the popcorn machine off.
Manchester City Council investigated the incidents and it was discovered the machine had a broken switch and a panel was missing which meant a circuit board was visible.
Both of the workers involved were lucky not to be harmed, but the court heard that the incidents could have been fatal. The risk of a serious shock was also heightened by the presence of the slush machine next to the popcorn machine, increasing moisture.
Cineworld pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £9 000. It was also ordered to pay £2 573 in costs and a victim subcharge of £120.
District judge Nicholas Sanders commented: "It's not clear how the first incident was reasonably avoidable. It is the second one which is obviously of more concern, as it was clearly avoidable by that stage".
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