An environmental services company has been prosecuted after a worker's arm was crushed by machinery.

Consillium Environmental Services Limited, Tower Road Business Park, Darwen pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £30,000 with £4,500 in costs.

Preston Magistrates' Court heard how Muhammad Shoaib, 30, was working on a waste line and cleaning out waste plastic material from a conveyor belt on 20 May 2015.

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However, while carrying out this work the machinery was started and Mr Shoaib's arm was drawn in between the rollers and the belt.

His injuries included crush injuries in two places on his left arm which required extensive surgery. As a result, he has not been able to return to work since the incident.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found no suitable and sufficient risk assessment had been carried out to identify the risks from the rollers. In addition, there was no suitable isolation process or guarding in place, and no safe system of work for cleaning the rollers.

HSE Inspector Sharon Butler said: "This incident was entirely preventable. It is essential to take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery. As in this case the outcome for ignoring these simple safety measures can result in life changing injuries and a substantial fine."

(LM/CD)