Legal News

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted Northamptonshire crisp manufacturer Tayto Group Limited, after an agency worker lost the tops of three fingers in machinery.

In August 2015, an agency worker was clearing a blockage of material from a machine on the production line when his hand came into contact with shears, severing three fingers on his right hand below the first knuckle.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive into the incident found that the guard on the machine was not secured at the time of the incident – the company had not implemented a formal monitoring system on the machine to ensure that all guards were in place and secure before the machine was started.

At Northampton Crown Court, Tayto Group Limited – of Princewood Road, Earlstrees Industrial Estate, Corby in Northamptonshire – pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).

The company was fined £330,000 and ordered to pay costs of £11,752.23.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Michelle Morrison said:

“This man suffered a life changing injury, in what was an entirely preventable incident.

“Employers must have adequate and robust systems to ensure that guards used to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery are in place and secure before machinery is put into use.”

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