A BUSINESS has been fined £5,000 after an employee's hand was severely injured at a powder blending and water bottling plant in Buxton.
The worker had been attempting to unblock a jammed powder blending machine at M P Bio Science International Ltd's former factory site at Staden Lane when the incident happened.
An access panel was removed while the machine was still running, and w
hen the employee put his hand inside to free the blockage he came into contact with a rotating ribbon blade.
He received serious injuries which included the "degloving"– which involves stripping off the skin – of his index finger between the second and third knuckle, and the severing of all the tendons and ligaments.
Tendons and ligaments in his third finger were also severed and all of the fingers were badly cut.
After initial hospital treatment and physiotherapy, the employee continues to suffer restricted movement and was unable to work for almost two months.
At High Peak Magistrates' Court last week, M P Bio Science International Ltd was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £3,000 costs after pleading guilty to breaching section 33(1) (c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 on August 15, 2007 and contravening regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, for failing to take measures to prevent access to a dangerous part of machinery.
Following the conclusion of the case, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a warning to companies to ensure worker safety.
Stuart Parry, HSE inspector for Derbyshire, said: "These debilitating and painful injuries could have been avoided if the company had correctly guarded the machine.
"The access panel was removed frequently for cleaning, maintenance and to unblock material, so it should have been fitted with an interlocked safety switch.
"This would have prevented this accident as any moving parts inside the machine would have been stopped when the panel was lifted off.
"Companies should ensure that access to dangerous parts of their equipment is prevented through robust and reliable measures, and that their systems of work do not expose their employees to unacceptable levels of risk."
M P Bio Science International Ltd manufactured bottled water and sports supplement products, the latter often in powdered form.
The company is now in Members' Voluntary Liquidation.
