BUTCHERS FINED AFTER WORKER SUFFERS HAND INJURIES

A butchers has been fined after a worker suffered deep lacerations to one his hands when working.

Bristol Magistrates Court heard how the worker was cutting beef bones on a band saw at the time of the incident when he suffered deep lacerations to his left hand.

The supplied safety devices on the band saw were not in use at the time of the incident as the worker had not been adequately trained to use them.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that the butchers had not provided the right training to the worker in order to complete the task safely; the company also failed to appropriately assess the risks posed by the task or have the appropriate level of supervision in place when this task was being carried out.

The Butchers at Clifton Limited of Portwall Place, Portwall Lane, Bristol pleaded guilty breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and have been fined £18,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,343.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Tania Nickson said: “The Company failed to appropriately train the staff member and failed to use the supplied safety features which would have prevented this incident from happening. The worker is fortunate not to have suffered more severe injuries.”