Shock warning for firms as employee is decapitated by meat blender

Businesses have been issued a stark warning over the importance of workplace safety policies, after a firm was fined six figure damages for failings which led to a cleaner being fatally decapitated in an horrific accident.

The incident occurred at a factory in Milton Keynes, where a new employee had the top of her head cut was off while inspecting a piece of machinery on the site. It is thought that a flap on a blender suddenly closed while being cleaned, causing the fatal injuries.

At an inquest the company was unable to provide any evidence that specific training had been provided for how to clean and inspect the machinery safely, or any warnings given for the potential risks of working with the equipment.

After a four year court battle, the family’s solicitor, Ciaran McCabe from law firm Moore Blatch Resolve, is warning firms that health and safety policies must be regularly reviewed, or the consequences could prove fatal.

Ciaran said: “This is a tragic accident that should never have happened, and it sends a clear message to other firms that becoming too complacent can prove fatal.
 
“It’s easy to think it won’t happen to you, but when it is the lives of your employees that is at risk, can you afford to think that way?”

He added: "We hope lessons have been learnt and that non-one has to go through this again. Nothing can bring back a loved one, and now the case is finally at an end, the family can try to start rebuilding their lives.”

The family have now been awarded substantial damages.