A Liverpool plastic processing and reprocessing company has been fined after a worker suffered serious injuries when his arm was caught in a machine.

Centriforce Products Ltd was prosecuted at Liverpool Crown Court by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident on the 10th March 2015.

David Flynn, 54, from Liverpool had been operating a plastic recycling line when he noticed a blockage in the cooling rollers. He opened the unsecured guards and whilst he was removing a plastic strip his arm was drawn into the rollers.

Mr Flynn suffered extensive life changing injuries in the incident and has been unable to return to work.

The HSE investigation found that the company had failed to provide a suitable guard to prevent access to the rollers, the risk assessment was not suitable and sufficient and the main isolation handle for the line was broken.

Centriforce Products Ltd of Derby Road, Liverpool pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9230.00.

Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Sharon Butler said: “This incident was entirely preventable. It is essential to take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery. As in this case the outcome for ignoring these simple safety measures can result in life changing injuries and a substantial fine”.