21 Feb 2013
A Northampton confectionery manufacturer has been prosecuted for safety failings after an employee’s hand was mauled in a machine.
The 28-year-old employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, was operating machinery at Tilley’s Sweets in Thrapston in Northamptonshire on June 9, 2011 when the machine became blocked.
He attempted to clear the blockage by hand but his glove was pulled into the machinery, dragging his hand into hazardous mechanisms.
His hand was seriously injured and needed a series of operations to correct the damaged tendons. He could not work for several months, still has to undergo physiotherapy and has limited use of his injured hand.
Kettering Magistrates was told that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported Tilley’s Sweets had not protected workers from hazardous moving parts and had failed to set up a security barrier.
After the accident the HSE suspended use of the machine until safety measures had been implemented.
Tilley’s Sweets of Springfields, Oundle Road, Thrapston admitted failure to follow Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1988 and was ordered to pay £1,500 with £5,175 in costs.
Copyright Press Association 2013