24-year-old amateur footballer Matthew Allison was the victim of a horrific work accident, and underwent major surgery after being trapped in a logging machine at AW Jenkinson Forest Products in Clifton, Cumbria, last June.

Although having worked for only 15 days at the company on a temporary contract, Mr Allison was working alone and attempting to clear a log jammed in the conveyor belt of the machine using a chainsaw. After losing his balance and falling into the machine his right foot became trapped in the 48 revolving blades in the bottom of the log box. He managed to radio for help after crawling from the box.

Allan Wilson Jenkinson, boss of AW Jenkinson was fined £20,000, with £6,146 costs after pleading guilty before Penrith Magistrates’ Court to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act, and the company has since fitted fixed guards to prevent workers from coming into contact with the log boxes and conveyor belts on the machine. The company also agreed that they should have done more to keep wood shavings from the machine off the floor.

Commenting after the case, HSE inspector Faye Wingfield said:

“It must be a high priority for employers to ensure that their workers are kept safe from serious injury and death at work. This case illustrates the personal consequences suffered by employees when workplace risks are not managed effectively. Employers who operate machinery are required to identify the risks associated with its use and establish what needs to be put in place so that work can be carried out safely.”