A firm has been given a hefty fine after a worker's fingers were chopped off by blades on a high-speed fan.
Roydon Granulation pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £15,000 with costs of £4,347.
St Helens Magistrates Court heard how an employee, who has asked not to be named, came into contact with the fan, which rotates at 1,450 times a minute, while he was trying to fix a problem.
He suffered serious injuries to four fingers on his left hand, including the partial amputation of two.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company's procedure for repairing the machine was inadequate.
Richard Clarke, HSE inspector, said: "One of the factory's employees suffered serious injuries because basic health and safety procedures were not followed. He has still not returned to work more than a year on from the incident."
Earlier this year, HSE inspections took place in locations around the country, including Nottingham, to make sure that public liability insurance holders were following safety guidelines.