By Sheila Mckenzie-
Former owner of a Bath paper mill has been fined £300,000 after a worker suffered life-changing injuries when his head was trapped in a machine.
The victim needed a nine-hour operation at the Royal United Hospital to reconstruct his face following the incident at Bathford Paper Mill in 2017.
De La Rue International Limited which prides itself at being at the forefront of new developments in the delivery of security and integrity to the Cash Supply Chain and the provision of Product Authentication solutions, pleaded guilty last week to breaching the health and safety at work act.North Somerset Magistrates Court heard that the worker’s head became trapped in a machine after a cylinder turned the opposite way to what he expected.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found De La Rue International Limited had “not provided a safe system of work for the removal of broken paper from the after-dryer section of the paper-making machine when the machinery was operated in reverse”.
The firm was fined £300,000 and ordered to pay costs of £11,191.A spokesperson said: “This site had a very good health and safety record. Following the accident, De La Rue reviewed its health and safety systems and standards throughout its operations.
“In determining the level of fine, the district judge gave credit to De La Rue for its good health and safety record, its general commitment to health and safety and its response to this incident.
“The paper businesses (Overton Mill and Bathford Mill) were sold by De La Rue in 2018. The sale was unrelated to the accident.