When being new can mean not knowing how things are done, but the risk should have been controlled anyway
What happened?
A new employee was working in the restaurant of a greyhound stadium when she collided with a waiter carrying an open bowl of near boiling water which was to be used to polish glasses and cutlery.
The scalding caused a serious injury to the employee and she was taken to hospital by ambulance.
The company admitted that their use of an open bowl to transport very hot water across the servery was a regular practice, however they failed to taken any precautions to prevent such an accident. They had also failed to advise new staff or carry out any risk assessments on the task.
Legal Outcome
The local borough council brought a case against the greyhound stadium and the court imposed a fine of £2,500 ordered them to pay costs of £1,729.95.
What can we learn from what happened?
Such a simple, routine, maybe daily work task, potentially so dangerous and yet one that is easy to manage safely. Keeping the hot water hazard away from other employees can, for example, mean using different routes that are specifically designated. Or only making the journey when other staff are not around, specifying times and communicating those to everyone concerned. Or better still, polish the glasses and cutlery in the same place the hot water comes from. There would be lots of options that are reasonably practicable.
And then, of course, not forgetting the member of staff carrying the water needs protecting as well.
Source of Information
QLM Newsletter