Frozen food manufacturer fined over safety failings
A major frozen food manufacturer has been fined £800,000 over safety failings, after an employee nearly lost his arm.
The 34-year old employee was attempting to check the condition of the head roller on a bypass conveyor in August 2014, when his arm became entangled in the machinery. His arm was almost severed in the incident at McCain Foods, based in Whittlesey, near Peterborough.
Peterborough Crown Court heard that though his arm was saved, he now has limited movement in his hand.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive into the incident found that the conveyor did not have the correct guards fitted, and that a risk assessment of the machine by the company failed to recognise the danger of this.
McCain Foods (GB) Limited of Havers Hill, Eastfield, Scarborough, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £800,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,831.51.