Wickes Health and Safety
DIY giant Wickes was fined £75,000 after a child was crushed under a heap of falling doors in one of its stores (in Derby).
Wickes said in mitigation that they spend £2 million a year on Health and Safety.
Interesting, but how is that £2 million actually split up. Wickes have 183 stores across the UK, not including Head Office (i.e., £11,000 per store). each store must employ 20 - 100 people, so about £500 per person would be a generous estimate. One H&S professional per 20 stores, paid £25k on average gies you £250,000. Two first aiders per store (training only) would cost another £50k. First aid equipment, at least the same. Signage is probably £250k per year - all corporate badged. Insurance inspections for fork lifts, boiler systems, etc., would eat into the remainder.
The point is that £2 million per year is very little for a firm the size of Wickes. The headline value seems at first glance to be impressive.
Wickes said in mitigation that they spend £2 million a year on Health and Safety.
Interesting, but how is that £2 million actually split up. Wickes have 183 stores across the UK, not including Head Office (i.e., £11,000 per store). each store must employ 20 - 100 people, so about £500 per person would be a generous estimate. One H&S professional per 20 stores, paid £25k on average gies you £250,000. Two first aiders per store (training only) would cost another £50k. First aid equipment, at least the same. Signage is probably £250k per year - all corporate badged. Insurance inspections for fork lifts, boiler systems, etc., would eat into the remainder.
The point is that £2 million per year is very little for a firm the size of Wickes. The headline value seems at first glance to be impressive.
posted by Jonathan | Friday, September 16, 2005
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