Rochford District Council has successfully prosecuted Crafty Casks Pubs Limited following a serious accident at their premises, the Crafty Casks Taproom in Rayleigh.
In 2022, a member of the public suffered severe head injuries after falling from an unguarded Loading Bay platform onto a concrete parking bay. The individual required emergency surgery and was placed in an induced coma but has since made a strong recovery.
The incident was reported to Rochford District Council from the business under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) and assigned to the council for investigation. Upon inspection of the premises, a range of safety failings were identified. Both employees and the public faced considerable risks because of these shortcomings.
After the investigation, the business took action to address the concerns raised and has put in place the essential safety measures but given the severity of the incident and evidence collected, the council pursued prosecution.
On 15 November 2024, the case was heard at Southend Magistrates’ Court, where Crafty Casks Pubs Limited pleaded guilty to two charges under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 relating to public and employee safety. The court heard that the council’s investigation found multiple safety issues, including the lack of a guard rail on the platform, poor lighting, slipping hazards from ice, and inadequate risk assessments for platform use and manual handling.
The Judge acknowledged the severity of the failings and initially imposed a fine of £40,000, however after considering the company’s guilty plea and financial position, the fine was reduced to £20,000. Crafty Casks Pubs Limited were also ordered to pay £13,000 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge, resulting in a total penalty of £35,000.
Councillor Lisa Newport, Chair of the Community, Wellbeing and Housing Committee at Rochford District Council, said: “This case highlights the importance of businesses taking their health and safety responsibilities seriously. The safety of employees and the public should always come first. While we are pleased that the business has since made improvements, this prosecution sends a strong message: failures that put people at risk will not be tolerated.
“Rochford District Council remains dedicated to enforcing health and safety regulations to keep residents and visitors safe.”