Health and safety failings lead to £21,000 in fines and costs

The owners of the Links Country Park Hotel and Golf Club at West Runton have been fined £16,000 by Cromer magistrates and ordered to pay nearly £5000 in costs for failing to make health and safety improvements identified by North Norfolk District Council.

JKRS Limited admitted eight counts of failing to comply with improvement notices issued by NNDC environmental health officers following a series of inspection visits over the course of 14 months from December 2008. Cromer magistrates imposed the financial penalties at a sentencing hearing on 12 April.

The charges included failure to identify trip and chemical hazards, not ensuring proper risk assessments were carried out, and failure to ensure staff and guests did not encounter potentially dangerous levels of legionella bacteria.

NNDC Strategic Director for the Environment, Nick Baker, said: “We actively work with businesses to help them make improvements to their management and working practices, so they can assure the health and safety of their staff and customers. But, as this case demonstrates, if businesses do not want to work with us, we can and will take determined action if needed. Looking after your customers and staff makes good business sense. Placing them at risk and incurring thousands of pounds in fines does not.”

ENDS