A Co Antrim firm has been fined £20,000 after one of its employees lost his arm in a machine.
The man's left arm was amputated below the elbow as he tried to sort a blockage in a screw auger conveyor that was mixing animal feed on February 7 last year, say the Health and Safety Executive (HSENI).
His boss, Brian McGuckian of McGuckian Milling Company in Cloughmills, pleaded guilty to two health and safety breaches at Antrim Crown Court today.
HSENI Inspector Gavin Rowan said: "The investigation found that Brian McGuckian failed to provide adequate information, instruction and training for the operation, use and maintenance of the work equipment.
"The investigation also found there was a lack of adequate guarding on the screw auger conveyor."
On the day of the incident investigators found that the injured party had been working in the animal feed manufacturer's blending plant when he noticed a blockage at a holding bin.
They said his arm was drawn into the unguarded rotating screw auger as he tried to rectify the problem.
"Employers must ensure that all machinery is adequately guarded and that their employees are trained and competent to operate machinery. This injury was preventable, and the risk from the unguarded machine should have been identified", added Mr Rowan.
"Employers should make sure that they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery."
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