Firm fined over fingers accident
3rd August 2010
A worker lost two fingers in an accident involving a mixing machine leading one of the country's most famous food producing companies to be hit with a £10,000 fine.
McVities manufacturer United Biscuits (UK) Ltd was hit with the five-figure levy after the gruesome incident at its Halifax site.
A probe was launched into the incident at the West Yorkshire cake baking site owned by United Biscuits on April 9, 2009, by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
This case highlights how serious injury can occur from accidents when people least expect it. In order to be protected against being unable to work due to illness or accident, income protection cover can help if policyholders are incapacitated and not fit to work.
Halifax Magistrates' Court heard that the employee, who did not wish to be named, was trying to clear a blockage in an industrial-sized mixer used to combine ingredients for flapjacks when she lost two fingers.
In order to reach the machine, empty the mixture inside and then restart it, the employee had to scale a 2m fixed step ladder, the HSE investigation found.
Though the mixer had stopped, the blades inside were still rotating and when she reached in they severed her fingers. The company pleaded guilty of breaching section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 after the incident at the McVities Cake Company on Hopwood Lane.
In addition to the £10,000 fine, the company was also ordered to pay £2,889 in costs.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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