Brighton meat firm fined following work
accident
A meat processing firm based in Brighton Meat Market has been
fined following a serious workplace accident.
A 16-year-old trainee was employed at meat processor Malpass
Direct, when the accident happened in August 2009.
The teenager was using a large mincing machine to make sausage
mix when the machine became blocked. He attempted to remove the
blockage jamming the machine but accidentally trapped his left arm
in doing so. His arm was badly damaged in the accident, meaning
that he was forced to have surgery.
Following the incident, Malpass Direct was investigated by the
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) who discovered that the level of
supervision the trainee was given was 'unacceptable.'
It was also discovered that the company often disabled the
mincer's safety interlock in order to speed up the process of
making the sausage mix.
The firm pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety at work
and work equipment regulations at Brighton Magistrates Court.
Prosecuting, the HSE levied fines of £5,000 fine and £4,005 costs
on the Hollingdean Road-based company.
The HSE also issued a warning to other firms that may be
considering overriding safety interlocks, saying that it would take
'robust' action against them.