Two work accidents have seen a major poultry processing company issued with substantial fines from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The firm was charged more than £250,000 after two employees were injured in separate accidents.
One of the workers was a supervisor on the night shift and lost his right hand when it became caught in the machinery during cleaning.
The second, a forklift driver, entered a pre-slaughter enclosure to clear a blockage in the system. Unfortunately, while he was there his arm became trapped and was broken.
Following an HSE investigation, it was discovered that the bypass device to override a safety control had been fitted.
Julie Jarvey, senior HSE inspector, commented: “Both these incidents were wholly avoidable. [The employee] was failed by the company’s lack of proper training, inadequate assessment of risks, absence of safe working practices and effective measures stopping access to dangerous equipment.”
The pair, who could find that their injuries have left them struggling to work, could now consider making an accident compensation claim against the company to access financial help for the future.