Pig Farm Fined after Worker Severs Finger
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a pig farming company following the serious injuries sustained by an employee whilst at work on the farm.
In December 2014 a stockman employed by Norfolk Free Range Limited was carrying out work at an indoor pig unit at Meadow Farm, Northwold, Norfolk. There was a failure with the automated system used to distribute feed pellets, causing the employee to use his hand to get rid of excess pellets that had built up.
Kings Lynn Magistrates’ Court heard that it was at this moment that the machine started up automatically – the employee’s finger was then severed after being pulled into the auger.
Norfolk Free Range Limited, of Lots Bridge Farm, Three Holes, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire pleaded guilty to an offence under Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The company was fined the sum of £12,500, and ordered to pay costs of £813.
HSE Inspector Anthony Brookes said after the hearing:
“HSE’s investigation revealed that this was an entirely preventable injury. Had somebody from the company checked that all the guards and covers were in place on the feed system before it was returned to service then the employee would not have been injured.”
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Source: Health & Safety Executive
