Pret a Manger, a popular sandwich chain based in the UK, has recently faced a significant penalty from a British local government due to a work safety incident involving a walk-in freezer. The incident occurred in July 2021 when a female employee became trapped inside the freezer for several hours. The Westminster City Council, responsible for overseeing the city of Westminster in London, imposed a fine of approximately $1 million (£800,000) on Pret a Manger, which the company is required to pay within 28 days.
Pret a Manger received the substantial fine after pleading guilty to the charges. An investigation conducted by the Westminster City Council revealed that the company had failed to conduct proper risk assessments for employees working in temperature-controlled environments. In a press release, the council stated that the employee’s entrapment in the walk-in freezer, usually set at around -18 degrees, lasted for over two hours before she was discovered by another worker. The incident took place at a Pret a Manger location in Victoria Coach Station.
According to a source at Pret a Manger, the malfunction of the door release inside the freezer was caused by ice. During her confinement, the employee attempted to create a makeshift cover against the cold air by tearing apart a cardboard box containing chocolate croissants. She exhibited symptoms of hypothermia and received medical attention for a possible case of the condition.
A spokesperson for Pret a Manger expressed deep regret for the distressing experience that the employee had endured. The company conducted a comprehensive review and collaborated with the manufacturer to develop a solution to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. They also emphasized that they have reassessed all existing systems and, where necessary, enhanced their processes following the July 2021 incident. Pret a Manger has fully cooperated with the investigation conducted by the Westminster City Council.
The council stated that Pret a Manger’s reporting system revealed a significant number of callouts related to defective or frozen push buttons on freezers in the 19 months leading up to the incident in July 2021.
Pret a Manger has been majority-owned by JAB Holding since 2018. With a presence in the UK, the US, Germany, India, and other countries, the sandwich chain employs thousands of individuals worldwide, as mentioned on its website.
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