UK's biggest producer of pork products fined
UK’s biggest producer of pork a products in the country was fined after a worker suffered severe injury to his hand at work.
The 60 year old man lost 2 fingers, the index and the middle finger on his right hand because of an unguarded machine at the factory. The incident happened when the worker stretched out to remove a piece of blue plastic from a mixing bowl while adding seasoning to the mixture.
After several operations and 10 months off work, the man returned to work but due to the loss of nerve endings in his damaged fingers, is unable to do the same job.
On investigating it was found the mixing machine was not guarded, unlike others at the site which all has an electrically locked gate at the top of a set of access steps. If gates had been in place, they would have prevented the paddles inside the machine from turning as the seasoning was added.
The company was fined for this neglect and ordered to pay costs of £4,076 to the injured.
The personal injury to the worker has caused him excessive pain and difficulty in conducting everyday normal tasks like even tying his shoelaces. This injury could have been avoided if the company had followed the advice and instructions of the Health and Safety Executives who had issued an initial warning.
Updated on 9/6/2011