5 January 2012
A children’s nursery company has been ordered to pay £75,000 after a 14-month-old boy lost part of his finger.
Just Learning admitted a health and safety breach at its site in Thorpe St Andrew, near Norwich.
The court heard the boy had been playing near a kitchen door at the nursery when he got the little finger of his left hand trapped.
Norwich Crown Court was told the company had failed to fit finger guards to all internal doors at the nursery, which resulted in the child being injured in October 2009.
The prosecution was brought by Broadland District Council in Norfolk, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
James Windsor, council environmental health officer said: “This prosecution illustrates the council’s determination to do all it can to safeguard the welfare of members of the community, particularly those who are most vulnerable.
“It sends out a clear and unequivocal message that we will investigate fully and bring the full weight of the law to bear on companies that fall below legal requirements.
“It is also a timely reminder to other nurseries that they should look regularly at their safety procedures and regimes to make sure they are up to standard.”
Just Learning operates 71 nurseries across the UK. The company also came before the Crown Court in March 2009, in a prosecution arising out of an incident at its branch in Cambourne, Cambridgeshire.
Other news for Thursday, 5 January 2012
Schools set to take on takeaways
Pabulum scoops Bracknell school deal
Court fines nursery after toddler is injured
Mitie sets sights on legal document market
Contracts round-up
FM World Blog: Out with the Old