Farm worker has arm crushed in machine

A mushroom farm worker has been left with severe personal injuries after being crushed in an accident at work, whilst employed at a North Somerset farm.

The 32-year-old employee from Poland had been using a specialised washing machine for cleaning the nets which cover the mushroom beds. As he fed the net into the machine his hand became caught and was pulled into the rotating parts.

The man suffered extensive soft tissue damage and his arm was broken in two places as a result of the work accident.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed that the machine had been operated regularly without the necessary safety devices, which had been deliberately removed to allow workers to hold the nets in place by hand.

The investigation also discovered that the worker had received no formal training on the machine despite it being the first time he had operated it.

The mushroom farm admitted to a causing the accident at work due to a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations at North Somerset Magistrates Court and was fined £32,000 and ordered to pay £3,624.59 in court costs.