Adventure centre fined £1 million after children suffer serious injuries in Surrey
A children’s activity company has been fined £1 million after two youngsters were ‘traumatised’ when they had their fingers jammed between doors.
‘Parents Get Lost’ was ordered to pay the sum after the children suffered “significant injuries” during a stay at the company’s Surrey adventure centre. It follows a spait of reported injuries at the outdoor centre, some of which required amputation
The case was brought against the outdoor education provider PGL Travel Limited by Waverley Borough Council after the children were hurt at the firm’s Hindhead site.
The court heard PGL Travel Limited, which describes itself as “the UK’s leading outdoor education provider”, had been monitoring similar incidents since 2009, and that 520 children across its sites had “sustained finger entrapment in door injuries, some resulting in significant injury and amputation”, Waverley Borough Council said in a press statement.
District Judge Cooper, sitting in Staines Magistrates’ Court imposed the fine on October 2 after the company pleaded guilty, the council said.
The two specific offences date back to incidents involving youngsters attending school-organised residential stays at PGL Marchants Hill Adventure Centre on May 26, and October 21, 2021.
The two children sustained “significant injuries to their fingers” after getting them trapped in door hinges in the accommodation blocks.
According to the council statement, PGL failed to install finger guards to protect children at Marchants Hill until the council issued them with prohibition notices requiring them to do so.
Councillor Tony Fairclough, Waverley Borough Council’s portfolio holder for enforcement and regulatory services, said: “This is a significant fine for a local authority prosecution and it is testament to the sterling work of our environmental health and legal teams.
“No parent expects to send their child on a school residential trip, and for them to return injured.
“The children involved should have been enjoying their first independent holiday without parents but were badly wounded and traumatised by their injuries, which required hospitalisation and surgery.”
A spokesperson for PGL said the company deeply regretted the injuries that occurred, as well as the previous incidents between 2009 to 2019.
They added: “During the sentencing, the judge acknowledged a change in culture initiated by a new CEO, including in respect of health and safety management where substantial investments have been made.
“A large number of initiatives were acknowledged by the court, including the installation of finger guards on all doors across all PGL centres.
“This resulted in a material reduction in the fine laid down.
“Whilst we acknowledge these historical incidents, and unreservedly apologise for any injury or upset caused, they do not reflect the high standards in place at PGL today.
“Safety is one of our core values and at the forefront of everything we do. We are confident that today’s PGL provides a safe and caring environment for young people on outdoor educational visits.”
The fine of £1m was imposed after PGL was given credit for its guilty plea and is payable within three years with £200,000 due the first year, £300,000 within second year and the remainder within third year. Prosecution costs of £18,006 are to be paid by 2 January 2024.