Iceland fined £2.5m for causing death of contractor at Rotherham store

Iceland was found guilty of two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, following a three-week trial at Sheffield Crown Court in July.

Rotherham Borough Council brought the charges after Tony Hopkins (58), of Silsden in West Yorkshire, fell to his death at the Eastwood store in 2013.

Mr Hopkins was maintaining air conditioning units in the shop’s roof space when he fell through a false ceiling and landed on his head.

An environmental health investigation found several factors contributing to the fatal fall.

The firm was fined £1.25 million for each of two counts, plus £65,019.64 in prosecution costs to Rotherham Borough Council.

An Iceland spokesman told the Advertiser: “The death of Anthony Hopkins was a terrible tragedy, for which we can only express the utmost regret.”

For the full story, see this week’s Advertiser.