Doncaster, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/26/2015 -- One of Britain's largest food manufacturers, Baxter's has been fined after worker Jodie Cormack was severely injured while working on a production line.
Famous for making soups, pies, condiments and sauces, the company admitted fault after an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the health and safety procedures were not substantial enough in the events leading up to the incident.
Mr Cormack became trapped after he tripped and fell into an auger machine while clearing potatoes from a conveyor belt which he had climbed onto. The company was unaware that climbing on to the conveyor had become common practice and the incident brought to light Baxter's poor risk assessments at the Fochabers factory. Baxters also failed to provide adequate training, supervision, information and instruction which was imperative for the safety of workers who manned the production line.
It took more than an hour to free Mr Cormack from the machine before he could be flown to Raigmore Hospital via air ambulance where he received emergency treatment. Mr Cormack was left with a prosthetic leg after surgeons had to remove part of his right foot and amputated below the knee on his left leg.
Baxters Food Group was fined £60,000 after they admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. After the hearing, speaking to the Herald Scotland, HSE inspector Penny Falconer said: "This tragic incident was entirely avoidable. Augers are known to be the cause of serious accidents when limbs are drawn in. Baxter's Food Group should have been aware of the risks involved in clearing the conveyor and the precautions that needed to be taken to prevent access to the auger."
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The Accident Team can provide a solicitor who specializes in accidents at work and can help you get the compensation you deserve on a no win, no fee and no risk basis. A spokesperson for the team said: "Accidents like these are life-changing and are far more commonplace than they should be. Companies often bypass safety procedures, sometimes due to cost but mostly due to negligence.If you've been involved in an accident at work, don't suffer the consequences; make sure you get good legal support and obtain the compensation that you deserve."
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