A food manufacturer has been fined £150,000 for repeatedly failing to fix issues of unsafe machines for staff.
Oriental Delight, based in Second Way, Wembley Park, had three machines that were not safe due to damaged interlocking safety devices and safety guards being completely removed.
The company was given prohibition notices in both 2016 and 2019 with similar issues found, but a routine Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspection in October last year showed it still had not been resolved.
HSE inspectors said that the previous warnings had been “effectively ignored” by continuing to use the machines in an unsafe manner.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 4 this year, Oriental Delight pleaded guilty to three breaches of The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
It was fined £150,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,020.
- READ ALSO: Motorcyclist injured in crash with bus
HSE inspector Marcus Pope said: “This case sends out a clear message to the food manufacturing industry that HSE will not hesitate to prosecute when inspectors find serious health and safety failings, particularly when previous enforcement and advice has been provided.
“Once again we see how critical it is that all employers make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here