A CITY restaurant boss has been fined £6,500 after a waiter fell and scalded himself as he tried to negotiate narrow, twisting stairs.

The accident at Clockwatchers, in Mealcheapen Street, led to James Evans suffering burns on his right forearm after he spilled hot soup.

Worcester City Council health and safety inspectors were only notified after a relative of Mr Evans tipped them off.

Five charges of breaching health and safety regulations were brought against 67-year-old Neil Hunter, of St Dunstan's Crescent, Battenhall, Worcester.

The defendant admitted failing to report an accident, failing to make adequate risk assessment, failing to assess manual handling procedures and failing to adequately ensure the safety of staff and customers.

Wendy Rushton, prosecuting for the council, told Worcester magistrates that on Thursday, February 17, Mr Evans was carrying a large saucepan of soup from the kitchen.

In a statement, the injured man said the pan became too heavy for him, he fell backwards and hot soup splashed on an arm, leg and foot.

He suffered scalding, blistering and burns from which doctors estimated he would take a month to recover. They also told him he would have discolouration for up to six months.

Inspectors found that the system of carrying soup downstairs was unsafe and that staff and customers were exposed to danger on the twisting stairs.

After concerns were raised Mr Hunter changed working practices to comply with health and safety regulations.

Leina Yadev, defending, said Mr Hunter had been in the restaurant business for 45 years and had always tried to abide by health and safety regulations.

"He has been the proprietor at Clockwatchers for five years and in that time there have been no accidents of a major or minor nature," she said.

"All new employees are now made aware of the risk assessment procedure and, since the accident, alternative means of carrying the soup have been made."

Magistrates ordered him to make a contribution to costs of £1,000.