A SUPERMARKET chain was yesterday forced to pay £12,000 after a Merseyside worker suffered burns from a damaged electric cable hanging outside a metal-framed window.
Kim Postlethwaite, who works at Asda's Aintree store, was off for 12 weeks after receiving an electric shock from a frayed lead in the staff canteen.
The television cable had been threaded outside the building through two windows because its nearest socket was not working.
Asda executives yesterday admitted breaching a health and safety regulation at South Sefton Magistrates' Court..
Nicola Watson, prosecuting for Sefton council, said: "The standard of safety in the staff canteen was well below that which might be expected from a national company.
"Furthermore, the inspector from the Health and Safety Executive concluded the accident resulted from the use of an unsafe temporary electrical installation, and the store had failed to adhere to basic practice.
"The failure to repair the faulty socket in the staff canteen, so as to supply the television with power, is likely to have exposed staff to danger for some time."
She added: "The condition of the cable confirms Asda's scheme of preventative measures was insufficient to prevent danger to members of staff."
The court heard the 10m cable had been pushed out of a window in the non-smoking area of the canteen where the television was situated, because a double wall socket had not been repaired.
It was threaded through the window of the smoking area next door and plugged in.
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