Pret A Manger fined £800,000 after workers member turned caught in aspect walk-in freezer

Pret A Manger has been fined £800,000 after one in every of its workers members turned trapped inside a freezer stored at -18C.

The distressed employee – who needed to be handled for hypothermia – was found after two-and-a-half hours by a colleague on the chain’s Victoria coach station outlet on 29 July 2021.

Wearing simply denims and a T-shirt, she tried to remain heat by transferring round, however her situation started to deteriorate.

Her respiratory turned more and more troublesome, and sensations in her thighs and toes began to fade.

In an try and protect herself from the chilly air blowing from the ventilator, she struggled to tear up a cardboard field stuffed with chocolate croissants, however her arms have been too chilly to interrupt it aside.

Following her rescue, an inquiry uncovered the absence of an acceptable danger evaluation for workers working in environments with managed temperatures.

According to data from Pret’s reporting system, there have been a number of cases during the last 19 months the place it wanted to handle issues with damaged or frozen push buttons. One incident in January 2020 in the identical kitchen concerned a employee getting trapped within the walk-in freezer as a result of they could not open the door from the within.

On that event, the interior door launch mechanism wasn’t functioning correctly.

Consequently, the sandwich chain pleaded responsible at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday to an offence that contradicted the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 after an investigation by Westminster Council.

Councillor Aicha Less, deputy chief and cupboard member for communities, public safety and licensing stated: “The shocking details of this case show a lapse of due care and attention.

“This incident exhibits that overlooking fundamental security measures can have essentially the most severe penalties.”

She added: “We hope the numerous nice awarded in courtroom acts as a warning, stopping this from ever occurring once more.

“Westminster City Council will continue to work with businesses to make sure the highest levels of health and safety are consistently maintained and educate staff in safe practice.”

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A Pret A Manger spokesperson stated: “We are incredibly sorry for our colleague’s experience and understand how distressing this must have been.

“We have carried out a full assessment and have labored with the producer to develop an answer to cease this from occurring once more.

“Following the incident, we have revisited all our existing systems and where appropriate, enhanced these processes, and have co-operated fully with Westminster City Council’s investigation.”