Flying lawn mowers

DIY chain B&Q has been fined almost £28,000 after a lawnmower was dropped on the head of a worker at its Wednesbury store, knocking her out.

The store admitted a charge under the Health and Safety Act at West Bromwich Magistrates Court after the case was brought by Sandwell Council.

Gary Cook, prosecuting on behalf of the council, told district judge Derek French that on January 31, 2006 staff at the Axletree Way store were asked to replenish stock, in a process called a “stock rumble”.

The court heard two male members of staff were using ‘aircraft’ steps to remove boxed lawnmowers weighing 18kg from middle racking to floor level .

District Judge French was told while this was happening a woman member of staff walked underneath the steps. However, at the same time, while passing the lawnmower down the steps, it slipped, fell and hit her on the side of her head.

“As a result of having being struck by the box she was rendered unconscious and had since had headaches, blackouts and stress-induced pseudo seizures,” said Mr Cook.

Mark Balysz, defending on behalf of B&Q, said since the accident a new risk assessment has been drafted to deal with merchandising activity on aircraft steps.

He said in the past five years, the whole of the company’s 330 stores had only reported seven accidents involving aircraft steps and stock.

“You can be sure that this incident in these circumstances won’t happen at the Wednesbury store again.”

Summing up, district judge French, said: “I accept that B&Q is a responsible employer and indeed I accept the assertion made that they are concerned about the welfare of their employees. However, it seems to me and it seems to be accepted by B&Q that this accident was avoidable.”

Mind how you go now!

Mind how you go now!

Demolition Dave

A DIY fan who cut an underground phone cable by mistake was hit with a £25,780 repair bill, two years after the accident.

David Brown, 40, rammed a metal post through a fibre-optic line while putting up a fence in his front garden in Rings end, Cambs.

A spokesperson for BT said: "A BT engineer was sent out to the incident and as a result of Mr Browns actions, we’ve had to replace 2,000 metres of cable"

David has been given just 21 days to pay.

The furniture sprayer, who lives with frail mum Jean, 70, in Rings end, Cambs, said: “I was shocked when I opened the bill. I had no idea the cable was in the garden.”

David has contacted his insurance firm to find out if he is covered.

Mind how you go now!

Exercise is bad for your home

The latest fitness craze to sweep Britain has its down side. A recent survey claims women exercising on the Nintendo Wii are causing millions of pounds worth of damage to their homes.

The bungling fitness fiends have contributed to an estimated annual living room repair bill of £19million.

Flower pots, television sets and even pets have been sent flying by the high kicks and hula hoop motions of increasingly vigorous home exercise routines.

Almost 20 per cent of women polled admitted having accidents after getting carried away in the living room with fitness routines such as those on the Nintendo Wii Fit.

Many of the 1000 women polled admitted they had caused an average of £7 worth of damage to their homes in the last year with over-enthusiastic work-outs.

Mind how you go now!