£100k fine for food processing firm

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the blade and chute area of the machine lacked effective guarding, failing to prevent any person coming into contact with the moving parts.

At a hearing at Taunton Magistrates Court, Amber Foods Limited of Trinity Park Business Park, Wakefield, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 2 (1) of the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974. They were fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,241.

Speaking afterwards, HSE inspector James Collins said, “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply implementing correct control measures for machinery guarding and safe working practices.

“Employers should make sure they properly assess risk and apply effective control measures to protect workers from dangerous parts of machinery.”