A BREWERY worker had two fingers chopped off by the rotary blades of a dust extractor when he tried to clear a blockage, a court heard.

Hall and Woodhouse Limited admitted breaching a health and safety regulation and was ordered to pay out £16,600 at Bournemouth Magistrates Court after Jason Painter’s fingers were amputated at the brewery in Blandford St Mary.

Steven Brooker, prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive, said his right index and middle fingers were “traumatically amputated” by the blades of a grain dust extractor machine which had no protective grill and a pipe that was cut shorter after being moved to a new brewhouse.

He said on August 27 last year Mr Painter pressed the stop button on the dust extraction system and left the room while the rotary valve slowed and the dust fell into a bag.

Mr Brooker added: “On his return, he noted a blockage and reached up into the chute to clear it.

“On doing so the rotary valve, which continued to spin on its timed circuit, amputated the right and middle index finger from his right hand.”

He underwent forty five hours of surgery with unsuccessful attempts to re-attach the fingers, Mr Brooker added.

Cliff Morris, representing the brewery, said the company had an unblemished health and safety record until now.

But district judge Stephen Nicholls ordered them to pay a £6,000 fine, £10,000 in costs and a £600 victim surcharge, awarding no compensation because he deemed it should be dealt with by insurance or a civil hearing.

  • FIONA Coffey,HM Inspector of Health and Safety for the Health and Safety Executive, said the case should act as a warning to other companies.

“One of the biggest risks is with maintenance of machinery,” she said.

“If you fail to put in preventative measures you end up with traumatic injuries like this.

“Risk assess everything you do.”