A series of health and safety breaches has led to the prosecution of the directors of a Bedfordshire bakery.
Genaro Saiano and Dejan Durkin of DG Bakery appeared at Bedford and Mid-Bedfordshire Magistrates Court after inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered dangerously exposed live wires on a bread conveyor belt.
An immediate prohibition notice to shut down the conveyor belt was served. Four other improvement notices were also made by the HSE.
In court, the two directors admitted breaching Regulation 4(2) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Mr Saiano was fined £3,000 with £500 in costs, while Mr Durkin was made to pay £2,500 with £500 costs.
HSE inspector Emma Rowlands added: "It is simply unacceptable to operate machinery with live wires exposed - someone could have been killed or suffered a serious injury."
According to the HSE, electricity kills around 25 people each year in the workplace.