Hampshire baker fined after accident injury

A baker has been fined after a worker had his fingers crushed in a machine.

Peter Ellis of Belinda's Bakery in Hampshire was prosecuted after a teenage employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, was injured when operating a dough moulder.

Following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) it was found that there was no guard in place to prevent access to the powered rollers on the machine that caused the accident.

At a hearing, the court was told how Mr Ellis reinstalled the guard, which had been removed some two years earlier, immediately after the incident.

Craig Varian, HSE inspector, stated: "The risks from these types of machines are well known in the industry and this incident could have resulted in far worse injuries.

"Had the guarding been in place the employee would not have been able to have accessed the dangerous parts of the machinery."

Mr Ellis pleaded guilty to breaching provision and use of work equipment regulations and was fined £500 and ordered to pay £300 in costs.

People who work in Bakery should be properly instructed in health and safety procedure to avoid trips and falls, burns, and machinery accidents common to the profession.

Published by Jessica Shervin