Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd, the operator of Alton Towers, have today (27 September 2016) been fined £5million and ordered to pay £69,955.40 in costs following an incident on The Smiler in June 2015 where two carriages collided.
Merlin admitted health and safety breaches in April this year resulting in a two day sentencing hearing that was concluded today at Stafford Crown Court. The court heard that on the day of the incident engineers overrode the control system on The Smiler without the knowledge and understanding to ensure that it was safe to do so. It was found that while there were no problems with the ride, the cars or the control systems, Merlin had failed to put in place proper systems and a suitable risk assessment for safe operation of the ride.
Sentencing, Judge Michael Chambers QC said that the incident was needless and avoidable, and a “catastrophic failure to assess risk and have a structured system of work”. The judge did accept that Merlin had a good health and safety track record and pointed out that an early guilty plea enabled the fine to be reduced by a third from £7.5 million to £5 million.
The following statements were given following the sentencing:
Nick Varney, CEO Merlin Entertainments
“From the beginning the company has accepted full responsibility for the terrible accident at Alton Towers and has made sincere and heartfelt apologies to those who were injured. I repeat those sentiments here today as we did in court yesterday,” he said.
“In accepting responsibility and liability very early on we have tried to make the healing and compensation process as trouble free as possible for all of those involved. We have strived to fulfil our promise to support them in every way and I promise that this support will continue as long as they need it.
“We were always aware that we would end up here today facing a substantial penalty, as has been delivered by the court today. However, Alton Towers – and indeed the wider Merlin Group – are not emotionless corporate entities.
“They are made up of human beings who care passionately about what they do. In this context, the far greater punishment for all of us is knowing that on this occasion we let people down with devastating consequences.
“It is something we will never forget and it is something we are utterly determined will never be repeated.”
Neil Craig, head of operations for HSE in the Midlands
“People visiting theme parks should be able to enjoy themselves safely. On 2 June last year Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd failed to protect their customers, they badly let them down.
“This avoidable incident happened because Merlin failed to put in place systems to allow engineers to work safely on the ride while it was running. This made it all too easy for a whole series of unchecked mistakes, not just one push of a button, to result in tragic consequences.
“Since the incident Alton Towers have made improvements to the ride and their safety protocols, and the lessons learned have been shared industry wide.”
Paul Paxton, of Stewart’s Law, representing eight victims
“The court have imposed what we believe is a record fine for the industry, but of course money alone will never replace limbs nor heal the psychological scars.”
“But this has not been about retribution; this has been about finding out why this accident occurred and making sure lessons have been learned not just by Merlin but by others throughout the industry and I think my clients can take comfort from that.”
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