HSENI | U.M.I. Foods Ltd has been prosecuted for breaching health and safety legislation following an investigation into an incident in which an employee suffered serious injuries to their right hand resulting in the partial amputation of three fingers.
The incident occurred on 21 February 2023 at the company’s premises in Edenaveys Industrial Estate, Armagh. An employee’s right hand came into contact with the rotating blades of a mushroom dicing machine. She suffered serious injuries, including the partial amputation of her index, middle and ring fingers.
HSENI’s investigation found that the employee had gained access to the rotating blades while the machine was in operation. Inspectors who examined the machine the following day discovered that a bolt securing the front chute guard was missing.
The employee had commenced employment with the company less than one month before the incident and had not received a formal health and safety induction.
HSENI served a Prohibition Notice preventing further use of the machine until measures were implemented to prevent access to its blades. An Improvement Notice was also served in relation to employee training. The company subsequently took steps to comply with both notices.
The company pled guilty to two health and safety offences:
- Failing to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of its employees, including preventing access to dangerous parts of machinery.
- Failing to ensure that all persons who use work equipment had received adequate training for the purposes of health and safety.
The company was fined a total of £10,000. Specifically, breaches and fines were:
- Article 4(1), by virtue of Article 4(2)(a) and (c), of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, fine of £5,000.
- Regulation 9(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999, fine of £5,000.
Speaking after the hearing, HSENI Inspector Gavin Myers said: “An employee suffered life-changing injuries to her hand while carrying out her work. Employers must ensure that workers cannot access dangerous moving parts of machinery and that machine guards are properly secured, maintained and regularly checked.
“Employers must also ensure that new employees receive adequate training before they are exposed to workplace risks. They should never assume that a worker will recognise a hazard or know how to avoid it without appropriate instruction and supervision.”
