A north-east shortbread factory has been fined £24,000 after a worker lost a finger while cleaning a machine.
Family firm Deans of Huntly admitted breaching health and safety rules when the case called at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday.
Their failings resulted in Lithuanian temporary worker Greta Justinaviciute losing two thirds of her right index finger – meaning she struggles to perform simple tasks like writing.
The accident happened on July 24, 2014.
The court heard Ms Justinaviciute, who was 21 at the time, had been asked to clean a 30-year-old “petticoat” machine which required her to remove safety guards and override a safety mechanism to keep the machine working throughout.
While removing dough from the machine with a high-powered air gun it slipped into the dangerous rotating parts.
Ms Justinaviciute – who had little experience of cleaning the machine – tried to retrieve the gun from the mechanism, but trapped her finger between two rollers, severing it, the court heard.
The court heard the young woman has received compensation from the firm, and that she has since moved to England where she is looking at various medical options for her missing digit while working as a cleaner.
The 30-year-old machine pre-dated modern health and safety laws, but Sheriff Graham Buchan heard “respected employers” Deans – who had no previous convictions – have since invested tens of thousands of pounds into improving safety at the factory.
This has included hiring their own on-site health and safety supervisor, and putting up signs on correct handling of machinery in numerous languages.
Taking into account the financial position of the small family-run firm – which made £311,000 in pre-tax profits last year – Sheriff Buchanan fined Deans £24,000, reduced from £36,000 due to the company’s early guilty plea.
Company owner Billy Dean and associate Les McCarthy declined to comment as they left court yesterday.