Food Firm Fined After Worker Loses Fingers | Health & Safety

Food Firm Fined After Worker Loses Fingers

Key Facts:

• A food firm have been prosecuted after a worker was injured.
• An employee severed two fingers after coming into contact with unguarded machinery.
• The subsequent HSE investigation uncovered several health and safety failings.
• The firm was fined £40,000 plus costs.

The Case:

An HSE investigation was launched into the safety practices of a food firm after an employee was injured in an incident at work.

An employee of the food firm was cleaning a mixing machine when his hand came into contact with its paddles. He severed two fingers in the incident.

The subsequent HSE investigation found that access to the dangerous machinery parts had been raised as an issue in 2013, but the company had failed to take necessary action. They also found that the employee had not received adequate training on the machine. The guarding standard also fell below that required by law, giving rise to significant risk. The

The case was heard at Boston Magistrates’ Court in November 2015, where the food firm pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11 (1) of the Provision of Use of Work Regulations 1998 and Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act. 1974. They were fined £40,000 plus costs of £1,037.

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