Worker's fingers severed at London food firm

Date:

22 June 2010

Release No:

COILDN/2206

Two London-based food companies have been fined a total of £15,000 after a worker had his fingers severed while using a food mixing blender at a factory in Ealing.

The cleaning hatch of the blender was open, exposing the rotating blade and as the worker started using the machine, three fingers and a thumb on his right hand were amputated.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Smith Weston Ltd of Elveden Road, Park Royal, which employed the worker. HSE also prosecuted Kolak Snack Foods Ltd, which owned the site - and which supplies many major supermarkets with their products - following the incident on 27 April 2009.

The City of London Magistrates Court heard that the machine should have stopped automatically when the cleaning hatch was open, and that the blender was in a poor state of repair.

Kolak Snack Foods Ltd should have had properly planned safe systems of work at the site and maintained the machinery so workers could not have access to dangerous parts, while the machine was in motion. Staff should have also been suitably trained and supervised.

Smith Weston Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £7,500.

Kolak Snack Foods Ltd, which was responsible for maintenance of the machinery, pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £7,500.

Both companies were jointly ordered to pay costs of £3,365.

Following the hearing, HSE Inspector, Saif Deen said: "This worker suffered horrific and lifelong injuries to his right hand, because these companies failed to properly protect him.

"This case stresses the need for employers to have safe systems of work in place so that guards and crucial safety devices are working properly, ensuring that dangerous machinery can be used safely."

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."
3. Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety."

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

Issued on behalf of HSE by COI News & PR (London & South East)