Greencore fined £40k for severed fingers

By Michael Stones

- Last updated on GMT

A supervisor had voiced concern about the machine two years ago
A supervisor had voiced concern about the machine two years ago

Related tags Occupational safety and health

Food to go business Greencore has been fined £40,000 after one of its workers had two fingers severed in a workplace accident, due to safety failings.

During a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Boston Magistrates’ Court was told the worker – who preferred to remain anonymous – had two fingers cut off when his hand touched the paddles of a mixing machine, while he was cleaning it.

Dangerous parts

A supervisor had raised the potential threat to workers coming into contact with the dangerous parts of the machine in 2013, the court heard. But the company had failed to implement the necessary safeguards, a HSE investigation revealed.

The guarding standard of the mixer fell below what is required by law and gave rise to significant risk, said the HSE. The standards the company needed to apply were widely available, long published and easily understood, it added.

Also, the injured worker had not received training on the machine he was cleaning.

Greencore Food To Go Ltd of Waldentree Lane, Spalding, Lincolnshire admitted breaches of Regulation 11 (1) of the Provision of Use of Work Regulations 1998 and Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act. 1974 and was fined £20,000 for each offence and ordered to pay full costs of £1,037.

‘Deeply regret the injury’

A Greencore spokesman told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “Greencore takes the safety and well-being of its people very seriously. We deeply regret the injury sustained by our colleague. We have cooperated fully with the HSE and as a result of the investigation have further strengthened our already robust health & safety procedures.”

Meanwhile, more information about the legislation linked to this case can be found here​.

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