Food firm fined over work injury

A food manufacturer based in Hull has paid out after two of its employers were involved in a work accident.

"Studleigh-Royd has rightly been held to account for not doing more to ensure its machinery was effectively guarded to protect its workforce," Health and Safety Executive inspector Alison Crank said.

The company, which operates Cranswick Convenience Foods, based at the city's Sutton Fields Industrial Estate, admitted to two separate breaches of Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

On December 29th 2009, James Hardcastle, one of the company's employees, had to have his left arm amputated after a work accident at Cranswick Convenience Foods, on the Valley Park Industrial Estate in Wombwell. Then, on March 4th, another employee, who has not been named, damaged two of their fingers while working on a machine at the site.

As a result of the work injuries and safety failings in both incidents, Barnsley Magistrates' Court fined the company £14,000 and instructed it to pay costs of £8,387.70.

In another recent case, Powersystems UK Ltd, of Badminton Road, Yate, was fined by Cheltenham Magistrates Court after a worker was injured by live terminals.

Published by Hannah Carr