Bread factory told to pay nearly £24k for hand injury
The Pontypridd-based firm was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), after its investigation revealed the machine lacked a guard to stop access to the moving blades.
At a hearing this week (December 16), Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court was told that the worker, who asked to remain anonymous, was clearing dough from the machine when her hand touched the rotating blades.
During the accident at the firm’s Pontyfelin Avenue plant on July 9 2012, the worker suffered a fracture to her right index finger and multiple fractures to her thumb and soft tissue. She also needed surgery after nerve damage to her right hand, causing the temporary loss of movement in her fingers.
Easibake Foods Ltd has since fitted a fixed guard to the blades to stop access during cleaning.
‘Failed to take effective measures’
HSE inspector Stuart Charles said: “Easibake Foods failed to take effective measures to prevent access to potentially dangerous parts of its machinery, therefore exposing workers to the risk of injury.
“This was a completely needless and entirely preventable incident that left an employee with painful injuries. The company should have used a fixed guard to prevent access to the dividing blades.”
Charles added that it was not uncommon for employees in the food manufacturing industry to be injured when cleaning unguarded, operating machinery. “The HSE will not hesitate to prosecute companies where key safety devices are not fitted to potentially dangerous machinery,” he said.
Easibake Foods Ltd, of Ballynahinch Road in Carryduff, Belfast, pleaded guilty to a single breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. It was fined £14,000 and ordered to pay £9,931 in costs.
