The former owner of a paper mill has been fined £300,000 after a worker suffered life-changing injuries when his head was trapped in a machine.
The man needed a nine-hour operation at the Royal United Hospital in Bath to reconstruct his face following the incident at Bathford Paper Mill just outside the city in 2017.
De La Rue International Limited - which prints cash for countries around the world - pleaded guilty last week to breaching the health and safety at work act.
North Somerset Magistrates Court heard that the worker’s head became trapped in a machine after a cylinder turned the opposite way to what he expected.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found De La Rue International Limited had “not provided a safe system of work for the removal of broken paper from the after-dryer section of the paper-making machine when the machinery was operated in reverse”.
The firm was fined £300,000 and ordered to pay costs of £11,191.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Tania Nickson said: “Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working.
“If a suitable safe system of work had been in place prior to the incident, the life-changing injuries sustained by the employee could have been prevented.”
De La Rue chief executive Clive Vacher said: “We understand the devastating impact this has had on the individual, his family and colleagues and have done everything we can to support them.
“De La Rue offers our heartfelt apologies that this incident occurred at the mill in Bathford.”
De La Rue said it has a strong record on health and safety and is certified to international standards.
A spokesperson added: “This site had a very good health and safety record. Following the accident, De La Rue reviewed its health and safety systems and standards throughout its operations.
“In determining the level of fine, the district judge gave credit to De La Rue for its good health and safety record, its general commitment to health and safety and its response to this incident.
“The paper businesses (Overton Mill and Bathford Mill) were sold by De La Rue in 2018. The sale was unrelated to the accident.”
