Warburtons fined over £1.9 after worker was caught in exposed conveyors

Warburtons Ltd was fined £1,921,459 (inc.costs) after a worker was injured when his arm got trapped against a running conveyor belt.

The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred on two conveyors on a bread line on 4 August 2015.
• These conveyors had exposed moving parts which could have been guarded.
• An agency worker was cleaning parts of the line.
• As he reached into the line he became trapped between the two conveyors.
• Part of the machine had to be dismantled to release him.
• This left him with friction burns which required skin grafts.

The HSE inspector said:
“Warburtons failed to guard the machine sufficiently to prevent access to the running conveyors, which in this case could have prevented the injuries. Employers should ensure that all equipment used by agency and their own workers alike are sufficiently guarded and take appropriate measures if any deficiencies are found.”