Workplace accident costs United Biscuits £10,000
A workplace accident has led to a £10,000 fine and £2,889 in costs for McVities maker United Biscuits.
The penalty comes after Halifax magistrates court heard how a female employee lost two fingers in an industrial-sized mixer used for making flapjacks.
The incident occurred on April 9th last year at a baking site in Hopwood Lane, Halifax and the employee sustained the injury at work when trying to unblock the mechanism.
Her fingers were severed as the blades inside the mixer were still rotating after the machine had stopped.
Health and Safety Executive inspector Rachel Brittain said it was "absolutely unacceptable" that a workplace accident such as this happened at the premises of a manufacturer of this scale.
"Preventing access to moving parts and fitting guards is an elementary and essential precautionary measure and inexpensive," she added.
United Biscuits employs staff at 17 locations in the UK, with another seven sites across France, Belgium and Holland.
Posted by Patrick White
02/08/2010 17:01
