Suffolk chicken company fined for health and safety breaches
A chicken company based in the Suffolk village of Flixton has been prosecuted and fined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after two employees suffered injuries in two separate incidents.
The first employee to sustain injuries at the 2 Sisters Food Group factory was 42-year-old Shaun Alexander, whose hand was crushed in a machine back in 2009. Malcolm Raven, 54, was also injured at the plant just a month later. Mr Raven was clearing an enclosure when his arm became trapped and was broken.
Both incidents were investigated by HSE officers, who concluded that the chicken company had violated the Health and Safety Act. As well as failing to give staff proper health and safety training for the tasks they would be undertaking, the management at the 2 Sisters Food Group were also criticised for not conducting proper risk assessments and failing to implement safe working practices at the plant.
The company, which is based in West Bromwich, was fined £230,000 over the two incidents, and was also ordered to pay £24,350 in court costs.
Following the hearing, HSE Inspector Julie Jarvey said:
“Both these incidents were wholly avoidable,”