Tony Hopkins, 58, from Silsden, near Keighley, West Yorkshire, was working at one of the supermarket giant’s stores in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, when he fell about three metres from a platform
Iceland has been fined £2.5million after a contractor fell to his death through a ceiling platform that had no handrail.
Tony Hopkins, 58, from Silsden, near Keighley, West Yorkshire, was working at one of the supermarket giant’s stores in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, when he fell about three metres from a platform.
The company was found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act after a three-week trial at Sheffield Crown Court in July.
Iceland said Mr Hopkins’ death in October 2013 was ‘a terrible tragedy for which we can only express the utmost regret’.
Mr Hopkins has been described as one of the ‘nicest, funniest men’ you could wish to meet, who was passionate about rugby league.
He was working for a contractor at the Iceland store in Rotherham, when the incident occurred.
He was to replace air conditioning filters located on a platform above a suspended ceiling in the warehouse.
He fell through the ceiling and sustained serious injuries. He later died in hospital.
An investigation by Rotherham Council environmental health officers found issues including no barriers in place to prevent falls from the platform.
Iceland Foods Ltd had not carried out a risk assessment over access to the platform, said the council.
An Iceland spokesman said: ‘Mr Hopkins lost his life due to the the absence of a safety handrail around the platform on which the air conditioning equipment was located.
‘This handrail had been specified in our design of the store, and our contractors had certified to us that it was in place. We naturally regret our reliance on these assurances.’
Mr Hopkins, of Silsden, West Yorkshire, was working for a contractor at the firm’s store at Sycamore Road, Rotherham, on 28 October 2013
During sentencing at Grimsby Crown Court this week, the company was fined £1.25m for each of two offences and ordered to pay costs of £65,000 to Rotherham Council.
Following his death, tributes were paid to Mr Hopkins, who was married with children.
Former landlord of the Robin Hood pub, Silsden, Paul Thompson, described him as the ‘heart and soul’ of any social event.
‘He was one of the nicest, funniest men you could ever meet,’ said Mr Thompson.
‘Nothing got him down. He was always full of jokes and laughs. Apart from socialising, his other passion was rugby league and especially supporting his home team of St Helens. Everyone who knew Tony thought he was great.’