News Article

Firm fined over severed finger


Posted by Chris Owen | Date Posted 05.06.2008 | Time Posted 13:04:00 | Views: 396
Employers have been warned to assess workplace machinery risks properly following the prosecution of a poultry firm after a worker's finger was amputated by unguarded machine parts.

C&P Bird Bros, based in Swineshead, Bedfordshire, was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay full costs at Bedford & Mid Bedfordshire Magistrates' Court. The company admitted failing to prevent access to any dangerous part of machinery.

Diane Davies from Riseley, Beds, suffered a serious injury resulting in the amputation of her finger after trying to fix a scraper cleaning system in the firm's chicken sheds. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identified that the machine was not adequately guarded as the guard had been removed for a previous repair and had not been refitted.

HSE inspector Penny Leede said: "The dangers of using these machines without suitable safeguards are well known."Serious injuries such as amputation can result when limbs, or parts of limbs, become trapped by moving parts.

"This serious incident could and should have been prevented by the company by ensuring that dangerous parts were adequately guarded," she added. "This case illustrates how things can go wrong when risks are not properly controlled and HSE will not hesitate to take action against those who fall short of the law in such a way."

Published in sections: Health and Safety ::

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