Seafood giant Young's has been hit with a hefty fine after a worker suffered grisly injuries while using a fish cake machine.
The 59-year-old worker's thumb and two fingers were severed while operating the machine at Young’s Seafood Limited's Grimsby plant.
The firm admitted the breach of health and safety regulations at Grimsby Crown Court and was fined £787,500.
The injured employee had worked for the firm, Grimsby's biggest employer, for 25 years.
Hef was not able to work following the incident in October 2017, but has since returned to work for the firm, according to Grimsby Live.
Young's employs more than 2,000 people in Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
The court heard that at the end of a mix run, he went to clear the mix from the machine, lifting an interlocked guard that should have stopped the machine from running.
He put his hand into the machine without realising it was still running and the augur caught his hand and drew his arm in up to the elbow.
The worker managed to free himself from the augur but in removing his arm, his thumb and two of his fingers were severed.
He suffered serious tendon damage and doctors were unable to reattach his fingers.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the machine continued to run when the safety guard was lifted and failed to respond when the emergency stop was pressed.
The interlocking system was inadequate, and the company had failed to ensure that the machine was effectively maintained.
These matters were exacerbated by poor communication between the shop floor and maintenance and an inadequate fault reporting system, the court was told.
Young’s Seafood Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The company has been ordered to pay £33,443.68 in costs on top of the fine.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Carol Downes said: “The life-changing injuries sustained by the employee could have been prevented and the risk should have been identified.
“Being pro-active with preventative maintenance and good communication of faults can reduce the chance of harm.”
After the hearing a Young's Seafood spokesman said: "Young’s Seafood accepts the fine imposed by the court following the Health and Safety Executive’s investigation, with which we cooperated with fully.
"The employee has been a valued member of the Young’s family for 25 years and continues to work with us today.
“We thank the court for its favourable comments about our positive health and safety record, our lack of previous convictions and our proactivity as a responsible employer to put effective health and safety measures in place to avoid incidents like this happening again in the future.”
