Tesco nearly killed me!
I write with regard to an incident at the Tesco Extra Store in Telford this morning (18 Jan 2007).
Having visited the petrol station I was driving off the forecourt and was about to leave the retail park, when a significant proportion of the sign advertising the petrol station blew down. The sign missed the bonnet of my car. Had I set out a few seconds earlier I fear that the plastic may have broken the windscreen of my car. Given the size and weight of the sign, and the velocity it achieved having falling from a great height, I feel lucky not to have been killed or seriously injured.
I am shocked that the sign was in such a state of disrepair that it was blown down. Given that the gale force winds had been forecast by the Met office on Tuesday I believe that an incident of this type could have been anticipated.
It is my belief that this incident violated the Health and Safety at Work act, given the serious potential for injury to members of the public or Tesco employees. Given the potential to anticipate such an incident I believe that Tesco have violated the the duty of care that they owe the public.
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Another misleading title.
How has this NEARLY landed Tesco in court?
If there were gale force winds, then all sorts of accidents can happen to any building. It's the force of nature, just like an earthquake or tsunami.
I could totally agree with the sentiment of this post if it had just fallen down on its own, and without gale force winds to blame.
Naturally everyone on this site will rant on about it not being secured properly. Under extreme conditions all types of freak damage to buildings can occur.
Unless you failed to mention you are a qualified engineer, how can you possibly suggest that Tesco has broken any law or is negligent in this case!!!!?????
Could please explain how Tesco could have "anticipated" this??
Good point there Tesco Manager, I think Richard must have been half asleep when he posted the email up. I've changed the heading for you and hope that makes you happier. Goodnight!
"It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety"
(Source - http://www.healthandsafety.co.uk/haswa.htm)
The issue at stake here is whether or not the management of this particular store did everything "reasonably practicable" in order to prevent this accident happening.
In this case let us first consider the argument that it was simply 'an act of God'. Heavy winds, such as the weather conditions experienced on Thursday are, fortunately, uncommon. But they were forecast on Tuesday by the Met office, which was widely reported in the media.
In this case is would be a reasonable assumption that the owners and managers of Businesses would examine their premises and take appropriate steps to assess the level of risk associated with items on their premises such as the petrol station sign in question.
If the sign was damaged prior to the incident in question or no effort made to examine the store and abate any potential risks, then the management of the store have potentially violated their duty of care in quite an egregious manner.
It is not necessary to have formal qualifications in engineering or law to suspect that a law has been violated, although it might require the services of experts in one or both areas in order to prove it.
What this post describes is an accident that could have been quite tragic. Any number of people can die through acts of God that are entirely unexpected.
In this case it doesn't appear unreasonable to ask Tesco exactly what was done at that store to ensure that their premises were safe for staff, customers and members of the general public, according to their legal, ethical and moral obligations?
On Wednesday night, having seen the forecast of severe gales I went into my garden and moved items of garden furniture that I thought might have blown away to the shed. I used planks of wood to prop up the fence in case it could not withstand the weather. So I took every step I could to remove potential risks of damage to my own property and that of my neighbours. Shouldn't business managers do the same? My intentions in securing my own property were at least partially motivated by the desire to not have to pay for the cost of the damage that may have occurred had I not taken steps to minimise the risks that existed. Doesn't it make sense for businesses to do the same?
For a professional manager to simply put this mis-hap down to an unpredictable act of God might well be how it was allowed to occur in the first place.
Well said the man/woman above, can tell you're an educator!
And the 'tesco manager' posting on here is far from professional.
Read my other posts, I'm not commenting in a professional capacity. Simply my own opinion like everyone else's on here.
Just as well manager as i think only you personally could have the temerity to suggest that 'gale force winds are just like a tsunami or earthquake'
I'd be thankful I wasn't killed or injured, not complaining about it.
Imagine the irony if a tree or indeed a brick wall had then fallen or collapsed onto your car on your onward journey? Who would be checking these prior to the expected adverse weather conditions?
Good God, tesco cant control weather, wish you did die tbh, less whineing then.
Even if an examination had taken place there may have been no way to tell that it wouldn't withstand the force of the wind. If the sign was damaged or noticably loose/not attached correctly then yes, it should have either been repaired or removed. If it wasn't then there would be no way to tell it wouldn't withstand a day of strong winds without subjecting it to a day of strong winds.
I can understand why the poster wouldn't be happy, I don't think I would be either in their position, but it isn't necessarily anyones fault. It could just have been one of those mythical "accident" things I've been hearing so much about. Don't seem to get them much these days, it's always got to be down to someone.
honestly man you need to get out more!!!
ITS WINDY: get over it
i can see you dont like Tesco but isnt blaming them for the weather a bit harsh????taking it too far if you ask me...
" TM said...
Read my other posts, I'm not commenting in a professional capacity. Simply my own opinion like everyone else's on here."
Tesco Manager I agree with you completely - I don't think you could do anything in a professional capacity.
*yawns*
The red underline mark under the "O" on my local Tesco sign has now fallen down twice in a year. Last time it fell down it hit a car damaging its roof, I believe. Again I have noticed the SAME SIGN has fallen, who knows what it hit this time? Tesco - Cheap apologies, Cheap Signs!!
The OP just wants fuss and attention.
If Tesco nearly killed me I would be well f***ed of. Would never shop there again and tell everyone else as well and the papers.
Are you serious? Take some responsibility for yourself! As you said there were gale force winds which you (presumably) were aware of?
I don't think you need to worry about Tesco attempting to kill you matey. I'm pretty sure should the stores start coming to life GhostBusters would be on hand to help!
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