Firm fined over severed fingersAn engineering company in Wales has been fined £8,000 after an employee severed his fingers in an unguarded machine.
Rhys Davies was working for Encon Engineering Ltd of Bartlett Street Industrial Estate, Caerphilly, when the incident occurred.
The 25-year-old was working on a machine used to mill titanium plates. He lost four fingers and the top of his thumb in the accident.
Mr Davies, from Cardiff, had three fingers reattached by surgeons, but is still undergoing treatment for his injuries.
Following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the company was prosecuted for breaching work equipment regulations.
It pleaded guilty at Caerphilly Magistrates' Court, and was ordered to pay the fine and an additional £2,000 in costs.
HSE inspector Steve Curry said: "Mr Davies' injuries were horrific and unnecessary - the incident could have easily been prevented had the machine been properly guarded.
"Employers have a legal duty to ensure that when employees are working with machinery, adequate guarding is provided to prevent workers being injured.
"The use of powerful engineering machinery was a day to day activity of this company, so it is inexcusable that an injury like this has been allowed to happen."
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