A SUPERMARKET has been fined £200,000 after a worker slipped on a water leak.

Crawley Borough Council has successfully prosecuted Tesco Stores Ltd for a health and safety accident on Friday March 10 at Lewes Crown Court sitting at Hove.

The prosecution was taken by the council following an incident at the Tesco store in Hazelwick Avenue, Three Bridges, in 2014 when water leaking onto the shop floor led to a member of staff injuring themselves and forcing her to be off work for several months.

Tesco pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to three offences.

The firm admitted breaching its duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and failing to report an injury following an accident within 15 days under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.

Tesco Stores Ltd was also ordered to pay the council’s costs of more than £51,000.

Councillor Geraint Thomas, cabinet member for environmental services and sustainability at Crawley Borough Council, said: “This case shows the importance that we place on safety, both for workers and customers who could be at risk through poor practices.

“It’s imperative that business operators maintain a safe working environment for staff and the public and that effective arrangements are made to report similar accidents to the authorities within 15 days.”