The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a food manufacturing company after a worker had to have part of a finger amputated after a workplace accident.

In October 2006, Thambirasaiyah Roy, 39, from Edgware was using a specialist mixing machine to make dough at the premises of Bread Factory Limited – formerly known as Bread Limited – at the Garrick Road Industrial Estate in Hendon.

Mr Roy’s left hand came into contact with the unguarded beater of the mixing machine during the process and, as a result, part of his left index finger had to be amputated.

The HSE investigation found the guard covering dangerous parts of the machine had been missing for some time before the incident – and previous advice from the HSE regarding maintenance of machinery in the factory had been ignored.

On Friday (30/04/10) at the City of London Magistrates’ Court, Bread Factory Limited of Hendon in Barnet pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The company was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay costs of £2,926.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Anne Gloor said the incident ‘could easily have been avoided’.

‘The hazards associated with this type of machine are understood within the food manufacturing industry – and there is clear guidance on the guarding standards which should be followed,’ said Ms Gloor.

‘There were clear failings on this occasion – had a simple guard been fitted to this machine, then Mr Roy would never have suffered these injuries,’ she added.

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