Pottery giant fined as girl cut by glass

Ceramics manufacturer Emma Bridgewater Ltd has been fined £266,666 after a girl attending a Christmas event was injured by a shard of falling glass.

A snow machine fell from a window above the company's gift shop where members of the public were gathered for the lights switch on in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent in 2024. The glass struck the girl's head, resulting in a deep, 5cm (1.9in) long cut.

"What should have been a festive event was marred by haphazard planning which left a young girl needing hospital treatment," Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Rob Gidman said.

The company said it deeply regretted the incident and had accepted the penalty imposed.

The independent regulator brought the prosecution after the 12-year-old was injured and said the company failed to properly secure the snow machine.

This was "despite the manufacturers instructions demonstrating clearly how to safely install it," said the HSE.

"Had the positioning of the snow machine been properly planned and the machine itself been properly secured, this incident could have been avoided entirely – and it's fortunate the victim did not sustain more serious injuries, added the HSE's Gidman.

"Christmas gatherings are a happy occasion, but it's vital organisers thoroughly assess the risks and put in place measures to minimise the risk of harm to the public."

The company pleaded guilty to a breach of health and safety regulations at Birmingham Magistrates' Court and was handed the fine on 6 July.

The firm was also ordered to pay costs of £4,931 along with a victim surcharge of £2,000.

A statement said: "Emma Bridgewater Ltd and everyone connected with the company deeply regrets the incident on 23 November 2024 and the injury suffered by a visitor to our Christmas event."

It added it had co-operated with the HSE investigation.

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