Confectionary company fined over worker injury

A Shropshire-based confectionery company has been fined £75,000 after a worker was hit by a one tonne force from a factory machine.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) successfully prosecuted Magna Specialist Confectioners under regulations for a use of work equipment.

On February 22nd 2007, an employee at its factory on Stafford Park Nine in Telford was cleaning up a refrigerant leak inside the safety doors on one of its production line machines.

The HSE noted that, although the powered part of the equipment "moved forcefully to one side" – closing the gap to the static part of the appliance – thankfully the worker’s head was not trapped, which could have led to an instant fatality.

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates. Facebook This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Work Email Keep up with the latest in HR... This field is hidden when viewing the form Optin_form This field is hidden when viewing the form Optin_date Year Month Day This field is hidden when viewing the form Batch_Newsletter

Investigating inspector for the executive Guy Dale said that companies should be expected to provide a safe environment for staff and often will only require some cost-effective and "simple" measures.

This follows a ruling last week that a Hendon-based bread manufacturer had failed to provide sufficient protection for its employees after one of its workforce had to have finger amputated following an accident.

By Colette Paxton