Two London food companies have been fined a total of £15,000 after a worker had his fingers severed in a machine, public liability insurance holders have been told.
Smith Weston pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £7,500 while Kolak Snack Foods, which was responsible for maintenance of the machine, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was also fined £7,500.
City of London Magistrates Court heard how when the worker started using the mixing blender it should have stopped automatically, as the cleaning hatch was open.
However, as this did not happen, the rotating blade was exposed leading to the worker losing three finders and a thumb.
Earlier this month, public liability insurance holders were warned about protecting workers from machinery when Federal Mogul was prosecuted after an employee severed the tip of his finger.