Large Fine for Sweet Firm - 24/04/2010

A sweet firm has been fined £300,000 after an employee was crushed to death in one of its machines.

The Company was convicted at Bournemouth Crown Court of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. The employee aged 33, climbed into the machine to clear one of the blockages, but it restarted and killed him at a factory in Poole in February 2008.

A Health & Safety inspector stated that by 'simply pressing a stop button does not adequately isolate a machine and if the machine in this case had been properly isolated from the electrical power source, this accident would never have happened'.

He added, all employees need to be adequately trained in correct company procedures - whether it's for clearing blockages, operating machines or any other high risk activity.

A proper risk assessment would have highlighted the dangers of entrapment. Therefore why not call RANA risk management NOW for us to complete this exercise on your behalf!