Incident at Christmas Event Leads to Significant Fine
Ceramics manufacturer Emma Bridgewater Ltd has been fined £266,666 following an incident in which a young girl was injured by a shard of falling glass at a Christmas event in 2024.
A snow machine fell from a window above the company's gift shop during a public gathering for the lights switch-on in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. The glass struck the head of a 12-year-old girl, causing a deep cut measuring 5cm (1.9 inches) in length.
"What should have been a festive event was marred by haphazard planning which left a young girl needing hospital treatment,"said Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Rob Gidman.
The company, known for producing handmade kitchenware, has been contacted for comment regarding the incident.
The independent regulator initiated prosecution after the injury, stating that Emma Bridgewater Ltd failed to properly secure the snow machine. This failure occurred despite the manufacturer's instructions clearly demonstrating how to safely install the equipment.
The Emma Bridgewater factory. The Stoke-on-Trent firm makes handcrafted homeware and kitchen accessories
The company pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations at Birmingham Magistrates' Court and was fined on 6 July.
"Had the positioning of the snow machine been properly planned and the machine itself been properly secured, this incident could have been avoided entirely – and it's fortunate the victim did not sustain more serious injuries,"added HSE's Gidman.
"Christmas gatherings are a happy occasion, but it's vital organisers thoroughly assess the risks and put in place measures to minimise the risk of harm to the public."
The snow machine was not properly secured, said the HSE
In addition to the fine, Emma Bridgewater Ltd was ordered to pay costs amounting to £4,931 and a victim surcharge of £2,000.
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