A FOOD warehouse has been fined £1,000 for breaching health and safety legislation.

Topmost Food Ltd, based on the Woolwich Arsenal site, pleaded guilty at Woolwich Magistrates Court on February 28 to offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The company was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay additional costs of £500.

An investigation by Greenwich Council found staff had not been using appropriate equipment such as step ladders and fork lift trucks to store goods.

Council officers also found an employee climbing shelves without any assistance or apparatus.

The company was served a notice requesting improvements to be made but failed to do so.

Greenwich Council’s cabinet member for environment and community safety, Councillor Maureen O’Mara, said: “Greenwich Council takes its responsibility to deal with health and safety within the workplace very seriously.

“Individuals should be able to work without having their health and safety put at risk.

“We urge all our businesses to maintain regular health and safety checks to prevent any employees from being injured at work and to avoid a heavy fine or even worse face prosecution.

“We hope the action we have taken will send out a clear message to all local businesses.”

For information and advice about health and safety at work, call Greenwich Council’s environmental health department on 020 8921 8177 or email health@greenwich.gov.uk