Tile Mart, trading as Roccia, has been ordered to pay a heavy sum following an accident at their Preston store involving a five-year-old girl.

While visiting the tile supplier shop with her parents on 2 April 2017, the youngster was injured by a falling display.

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She was taken to hospital were it was confirmed she had broken her foot and underwent an operation to support the fracture.

Following the incident, health and safety Inspectors from Preston City Council visited the Queen Street premises and discovered that a vanity unit and ceramic basin had not been secured on display properly and was only attached to the wall with adhesive silicone, rather than screws.

Tile Mart also failed to have an active health and safety policy in force and prior to this accident no risk assessment was conducted.

During the prosecution, it was outlined that there was a serious and systemic failure within the organisation to address risks to health and safety.

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The offences exposed a large number of the customers who visited the showroom to the risk of harm and it should have been highly foreseeable that they may interact with the displays.

Tile Mart pleaded guilty to two health and safety offences at Preston Magistrates’ Court and on 29 August 2018 and was sentenced to pay a total of £40,494.50.

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Deputy leader and cabinet member for planning and regulation councillor Peter Moss, said: “This demonstrates how important it is to correctly follow health and safety guidelines, especially when children can be at risk. The continuous good work of Environmental Health officers working with local businesses helps keep the public safe.

“Most businesses in Preston are run to a very high standard and so much of our work does not end in prosecution. However we will not hesitate to take action against those who act illegally.”

Have you visited Tile Mart recently? What do you think about the incident? Let us know in the comments below