Leicester bakers ordered to pay £628,000 after double death in oven

A Leicestershire Bakery was ordered to pay £628,000 today after two workers died of heat exposure as they worked on a bread oven at the company's factory on16 May 1998.

Fresha Bakeries Ltd, trading as Harvestime Ltd, and two directors and a manager pleaded guilty to eight health and safety charges. They were fined a total of £373,000 and ordered to pay costs of £255,000.

Speaking after the case, Timothy Walker, Director General of the HSE said: "This is an appalling case and naturally our sympathies are with the bereaved families. I hope that today's penalties will send the strongest message to employers throughout Great Britain that protecting the health and safety of workers is a vital task for directors and managers, not an administrative inconvenience."
This document is for general guidance and research purposes only, and does not purport to give professional advice. Please check the date at the top of the article; the Workplace Law Network retains historic articles for general research.