Kybotech Ltd has been fined £40,000 with £1314 in costs after an employee severed most of his forearm on an unguarded conveyor.

Mark Marshall, 19 years old, accidentally dropped a glove on the machine and instinctively went to retrieve it, resulting in his other hand being drawn into the conveyor through a gap above the conveyor chain.

The Nottinghamshire company pleaded guilty after it was revealed by a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation that a piece of plastic that would have reduced the size of an opening in the front of the drive mechanism had previously been damaged, resulting in the opening not being small enough to prevent a hand from being drawn in.

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An inspection revealed guarding on two other conveyors was also unsuitable.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

Stuart Pilkington, HSE inspector, said: "This was an extremely traumatic incident, not just for Mr Marshall, but for his colleagues as well.

"This case highlights the importance of ensuring dangerous machinery is properly guarded."

(LM/CD)