Frozen foods giant fined £800,000 over worker mutilation

FROZEN food manufacturer McCain Foods has been fined after an incident at its Peterborough site.

Scarborough-based McCain was fined £800,000 after a worker nearly lost his arm in machiners.

The 34 year-old employee was attempting to check the condition of a roller on a bypass conveyor when his arm became entangled in machinery and his arm was almost severed.

Peterborough Crown Court heard that the limb was saved but he now has “limited” movement in it.

The Health and Safety Executive investigation into the incident, which occurred on the 21 August 2014, found that the conveyor did not have the correct guards fitted and that the company failed to recognise the danger.

In a statement, McCain Foods said: “As a responsible food manufacturer, McCain Foods (GB) Ltd takes all matters of health and safety extremely seriously.

McCain Foods (GB) Ltd confirms the conclusion of the formal case brought against the Company by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), following an incident that took place in August 2014 at its Whittlesey plant. Regrettably, an engineer was injured in the incident in the course of an inspection of a conveyor, but has since recovered and returned to work with McCain.

“Ensuring the safety of employees is paramount and the Court recognised that McCain Foods is dedicated to continuous health and safety improvement as part of its strict operational procedures.”