Farming company fined after man is trapped in manure machine

Bradford Magistrates Court heard that on the 21 January 2009, an employee of CK Hanson and Son Ltd lost his big toe and part of the heel of his left foot, broke all his toes and severely damaged the ankle of his right foot when he fell into a manure auger.

The HSE investigation found that the auger, a screw conveyor that takes the manure out of a battery hen house, had not been sufficiently guarded, when the worker slipped in, trapping both feet. The court also heard that the doctor attending the incident became so concerned for the worker's welfare that firefighters seriously considered removing his foot as the only means of getting him out of the machine.

The worker is currently still off work and recovering from his injuries.

CK Hanson & Son Ltd of Scholebrook Farm, Scholebrook Lane, Tong, Bradford, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The firm was fined 2,000 and ordered to pay 1,395 in costs.

After the hearing HSE inspector Charles Callis said: "This worker nearly lost his foot, and he has suffered long term injuries - all because his employer failed to ensure the machine was properly guarded.

"CK Hanson & Son only needed to install properly-fitted guarding to this machine, to prevent this incident.

"Employers must thoroughly plan work activities around dangerous machinery, to account for any risks and to avoid these incidents from happening."