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Furniture Giant DFS is fined £1 million for safety breach

A worker at an upholstery site was struck by an unsecured piece of furniture and sustained serious head and neck injuries in July 2015, Derby Magistrates Court heard.

Furniture Giant DFS is fined £1 million for safety breach

The HSE investigation discovered the company did not effectively manage the risks associated with the movement of some loads between factories. The work was not properly supervised, despite several near-miss reports.

The company, which pleaded guilty, was fined £1m and was ordered to pay costs of over £15000 for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations.

DFS expressed regret over the incident and confirmed that safety standards have now been reviewed and improved.

This case highlights the importance of good management of health and safety in all businesses, large and small. The large fine also reflects current sentencing guidelines which are designed to punish businesses on ability to pay for serious offences.