Iceland fined £2.5m after warehouse ceiling fall

Tony Hopkins was working at one of the firm's stores in Rotherham when he fell about 10ft (3m) from a platform that was missing a handrail. 

Iceland was convicted in July of two criminal breaches of safety law after a trial at Sheffield Crown Court. Iceland said the 58-year-old’s death in 2013 was “a terrible tragedy for which we can only express the utmost regret.” 

Mr Hopkins was working for a contractor at the firm's Rotherham store on 28 October 2013. 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 from which he later died in hospital. An investigation by Rotherham Council found no barriers in place to prevent falls from the platform, restricted space on the platform near the ladder and several tripping hazards. 

Iceland Foods had not carried out a risk assessment, said the council. The company was fined £1.25m for each of two criminal safety offences and ordered to pay costs of £65,000 to Rotherham Council.

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