Firm fined after arm severed

A Suffolk-based animal feed manufacturer has been fined after a worker lost his arm when it became entangled in a conveyor.

Christopher Brennan, 35, from Norwich, was attempting to clear a blockage on a conveyor at the Burston Mill site of BOCM Pauls, when his right arm became entangled and was severed just below the elbow. Since the incident on 20 September 2011 he has been unable to work.

Norwich Magistrates' Court heard that BOCM Pauls had failed to provide a safe system of work for production staff to clear blockages on conveyors and there were no guards to prevent access to the unblocking hatch.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the company after its investigation found that blockages happened regularly but there were inadequate methods for clearing them. In addition, isolators for the conveyors' power supply were located out of reach with no safe means to access them.