A BROMSGROVE food manufacturer has been fined after a worker severed two fingers while cleaning a drain on a production line.

The 25-year-old employee lost part of his index and middle fingers on his right hand when it came into contact with a heavy duty blade at Bumble Hole Foods Ltd, in Bumble Hole Lane, on August 26, 2010.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the risks of cleaning around the blade had not been adequately assessed or controlled, and employees were able to reach dangerous moving parts while the blade was running.

During a hearing on April 24, Redditch Magistrates Court heard the Fockbury company were aware of the risks, following a similar incident in 2008, and how the training was carried out by employees who were not qualified to train others.

Bumble Hole Foods pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

The company was fined £13,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,303.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Christopher Gregory said: “This incident was entirely foreseeable and easily preventable.

“This case shows the importance of learning from mistakes and ensuring formal advice from the HSE is not ignored.

“Employers have a duty to act on their findings.

“If Bumble Hole Foods had taken prompt action after the previous incident, this could so easily have been avoided.”