FACTORY bosses have been fined after a worker lost sections of his fingers in a wood cutting machine.

Shaw Pallet, of Slaithwaite, was yesterday fined £7,500 by magistrates after saw operator, Mark Hackin, lost parts from two fingers as he attempted to tape over gaps in a chute below the machine.

Huddersfield magistrates heard the machine would become blocked with sawdust and debris that would escape through holes in the waste chute.

Workers would often have to clear or repair the machine exposing themselves to dangerous working parts of the machine.

The factory lacked adequate procedures for reporting and repairing faults, Huddersfield magistrates were told.

Mr Hackin, who was 38 at the time of the accident on December 21, 2009, underwent skin grafts to heal the wounds but returned to work six weeks later.

He continues to work for the company, the court was told.

Magistrates heard Shaw Pallet had been served with a safety improvement notice by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in May 2006 after an employee was injured by another machine.

Prosecuting HSE inspector Jackie Ferguson said: “This incident was entirely preventable and caused by Shaw Pallet’s failure to ensure robust systems were in place to prevent access to dangerous moving parts of the block saw.

“That failure was made worse by the fact that we had taken action for an almost identical breach before.

“The woodworking industry has one of the highest injury rates in manufacturing, most of which are caused by contact with moving machinery. This accounted for a quarter of all major injuries and one of last year’s two deaths in this sector.

“HSE will not hesitate to take enforcement action against those that fall so far below the required standard.”

Defending, Suzanne Drinkwater said the company was ‘extremely remorseful’ for the accident and lessons had been learned.

Ms Drinkwater said the incident was an ‘isolated lapse’ for a company which had been ‘conscientious’ towards health and safety.

A spokesman for Shaw’s said: “This was a regrettable incident.

“The company has been trading for 37 years and prior to this accident had a good health and safety record.

“Whilst the company takes health and safety seriously, it had not appreciated that the work systems in place at the time of the accident were not sufficient and has taken steps to ensure compliance.”

The firm admitted breaching health and safety laws.

It was fined £7,500 plus £2,410 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.