A Holmfirth based plumbing business has been ordered to pay £10,000 in compensation after installing a radiator that injured a five-year-old girl.
Leeds Magistrates Court found Trust Eco Ltd guilty for installing a radiator which was ‘unsafe’, contrary to The General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
On 9th April 2021 West Yorkshire Trading Standards received a complaint through the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline that a radiator which had been fitted by a plumber employed by Trust Eco Ltd had detached from its brackets and fallen onto their 5-year-old daughter causing serious head injuries, resulting in the girl spending five nights in intensive care at Leeds General Infirmary.
The radiator was unsafe as it had been fitted some months earlier to a plasterboard wall which was not strong enough to take the weight of the radiator.
This meant that the brackets moved, and the radiator was able to come away from its supports. An expert examined the installation and concluded that such an outcome was foreseeable and Trust Eco Ltd did not fit the radiator competently.
The young girl continues to suffer from the effects of the incident nearly 2 years on.
The business was fined £100 and ordered to pay a £34 Victim Surcharge and prosecution costs of £8,662.57. The judge focussed his comments on the harm caused to the five-year-old victim of the incident, and awarded compensation of £10,000 for her injuries.
David Strover, trading standards manager – business services team, said: “We are pleased that we have achieved a successful outcome to this investigation which resulted from an avoidable accident. While the fine imposed is nominal, the Court has recognised the impact of the accident on a young child by the award of significant compensation.
“Householders are recommended to check that anyone carrying out work in their properties have Public Liability insurance and the person carrying out work on their property is suitably qualified and in the case of plumbing and gas related work are registered on the Gas Safe Register.
