Brewery fined £20,000 after vessel stirrer breaks foot 23 January 2015

Herefordshire-based Wye Valley Brewery has been fined £20,000 plus £9,632 costs for safety failings that resulted in a worker suffering a broken foot when it became trapped in a rotating stirrer.

The employee had entered an empty mash tun on 20 February 2013 to clean it, but the stirrer had been left running and his right foot became caught.

An HSE (Health and Safety Executive) investigation found the incident could have been prevented had the brewery assessed the risks and taken appropriate action.

The investigation also found there was no safe system of work or an emergency rescue procedure.

"Wye Valley Brewery had advice and information about devising safe systems of work for entry into confined spaces, but ignored it and failed to consider the risks to its employees," comments HSE inspector Tariq Khan.

"As a result, a man suffered a painful injury. He was very fortunate that colleagues heard his cries for help and managed to rescue him in time."

Brian Tinham

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