Newcastle City Council has been prosecuted after a five-year-old girl required surgery when she was injured by an interactive exhibit, highlighting the need for plumbers liability insurance holders to bear in mind the health and safety of members of the public.
The council pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £12,000 with costs of £7,733.
Newcastle Upon Tyne Magistrates Court heard that the child was visiting the Discovery Museum in the city when she placed her hand in an opening of the Floating On Air Exhibit.
The opening, which should have been protected by a guard, led to the rotating blades of a fan, which caused serious injuries to the girl's hand.
Carol Foster, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector, said: "It’s important that councils, like any other organisations, must have systems and procedures in place to ensure that the safety of members of the public is not put at risk by their activities."
Recently, Peter John Morrell was prosecuted after ignoring a legal order preventing him from issuing safety certificates for inflatable amusements.