Two of the employee’s fingers were severed below the second knuckle and one below the first before an attempt to reattach them proved unsuccessful. They have since been unable to return to work,The manufacturer involved, AMC Freshly Squeezed, was prosecuted for failing to discharge general health, safety and welfare duty to employee and fined £16,000.To get more news about belt juicer, you can visit hlmachines.com official website.

Liverpool Magistrates Court heard that the production operative was carrying out the daily process of cleaning the extraction area at AMC’s premises in Whitemoss Business Park in Skelmersdale in July 2019.

While the screw conveyor, which is used for removing waste pulp and peel from the building, was being cleaned the employee noticed that no water or debris was exiting the drain as it normally would.

In an attempt to remove the blockage, they inserted their hand through the drain hole, resulting in the severing of three fingers on their right hand. The hospital attempted to reattach the fingers, but was unsuccessful.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), found that although removal of the drain plug was done daily, the company failed to identify and therefore eliminate the dangers involved in accessing the moving parts of the open drain point of the screw conveyor. No risk assessments were undertaken and no safe systems of work were in place. The company did not provide staff with adequate training or make them aware of the dangers associated with the machinery being used.The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £16,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,400.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector David Bellis said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided. Employers should ensure they carry out an assessment of the risks and put in safe system of works for the operation of all machinery, including tasks such as cleaning.