by Injury Claim
9 August 2010
United Biscuits have been fined heavily and left themselves vulnerable to a work injury compensation claim after an unnamed female employee lost two of her fingers while working for the company.
The woman attempted to unplug a blockage in an industrial mixer that was making flapjacks. Although the mixing mechanism was halted for her to perform this operation, the rotating blades under the surface of the mixture were not, and the woman's fingers were sliced off.
United, who make McVitie's biscuits among others, were fined £10,000 for breaching sec 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and also ordered to pay £3000 costs. Given the nature of the woman's injuries she is entitled, given that fault has been attributed to her employer, to make an injury claim as well.