John Lewis fined £1.2m after worker suffers serious injuries at Milton Keynes warehouse
The worker was 'performing an unsafe manoeuvre' in February 2022 at a site in Magna Park by climbing small steps without a handrail - suffering a broken hip from the fall that required extensive surgery afterwards
A court has fined John Lewis PLC £1.2 million after a serious health and safety breach led to an agency worker falling and sustaining long-term injuries at its Magna Park warehouse in February 2022.
The worker fell from small steps placed over a conveyor belt. The steps had no handrails, and the area had limited headspace, creating a significant risk of falls. The fall resulted in a broken hip that required extensive surgery and caused ongoing complications.
Milton Keynes City Council’s Environmental Health Team investigated the incident and found the steps to be "an obvious and imminent risk." The council issued a prohibition notice, immediately banning the use of steps without handrails over conveyor belts at the warehouse.
John Lewis PLC admitted to health and safety breaches under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999. At Oxford Magistrates' Court, the company pleaded guilty to failing to conduct a suitable risk assessment, failing to maintain a safe system of work, and failing to provide adequate training and instruction for employees and agency workers.
In sentencing, the judge remarked, “The nature of the manoeuvre he was required to take was inherently unsafe,” and emphasised that the offence significantly contributed to the harm suffered. The court reduced the fine due to the company’s early guilty plea, demonstrated remorse, and cooperation during the investigation. In addition to the £1.2 million fine, John Lewis PLC was ordered to pay £11,271 in costs and a £190 statutory surcharge.
Commenting on the case, Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, Councillor Mick Legg, stated, “This case highlights why employers must make health and safety their number one priority. Failure to do so can lead to real harm with devastating consequences. Slips, trips and falls are a major cause of injury in workplaces, and the onus is on businesses to ensure they provide safe working environments. There are lessons to be learnt from this case to prevent similar incidents in the future.”