According to HSE Inspector Rachel Brittain the work accident that resulted in an employee losing two fingers is ‘unacceptable’.  Ms Brittain’s remark was driven by the fact the employer is one of the largest scale food manufacturers in the United Kingdom.  The employer is McVities Cake Company and the factory is situated in Halifax and owned by United Biscuits (UK) Ltd.

An employee lost two fingers on her right hand when she ascended a fixed ladder of two meters to reach a large mixing machine that stopped.  Even though the machine had stopped the blades continued to rotate.  When she reached inside the machine her fingers were severed.  The incident took place on 9 April 2009.

On 30 July 2010, the Halifax Magistrate’s Court fined United Biscuits (UK) Ltd ₤10,000.  The company was also ordered to pay costs of ₤2,889.  The Court made its decision after United Biscuits (UK) Ltd pleaded guilty.  The company admitted to being in breach of section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 that states

‘It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees’.

After the hearing Ms Brittain went on to say,

‘United Biscuits failed to fulfil its duty of care to its employees’.

She pointed out it is the employer’s responsibility to stop access to moving machinery components by the installation of appropriate safety guards.  Such basic measures to prevent a work accident are not expensive.