Firm fined after worker injured hand in mixer

A FOOD firm has been fined after a worker seriously injured his hand on an unguarded dough mixer.

Joseph Burnett, 22, was working for Jian’s Dumplings Ltd at the company’s former premises in Gracemount, when he was hurt on June 23, 2010.

The firm, of Loanhead, Midlothian, admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday and was fined £1000.

The court heard Mr Burnett suffered two fractures in his fingers and ripped tendons in his index and middle fingers.

He required more than 30 stitches and had to undergo surgery, with his arm left in a plaster cast for eight weeks.

After sentencing, Health and Safety Executive inspector Katie Dunlop said: “This incident could have easily been avoided if a suitable risk assessment had been 
carried out.”