A Newhaven Waste Management Company and its Directors have been fined after an employee got his arm caught in a conveyor at a material recycling plant.

Brighton Magistrates’ Court heard how Keith Randall, a Skip-It Containers Ltd employee, was injured when he got his arm caught in a conveyor resulting in serious injury to his right hand and forearm.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 12 February 2016, found the company failed to ensure the conveyor guards were maintained and fully functioning at all times.

The individual Directors, Mark Penfold and Rachael Penfold, failed to monitor for health and safety including machinery safety standards.

Skip-It Containers Ltd of The Old Timber Yard, Newhaven, was found guilty of breaching Regulation 5(1) and Regulation 6(2) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £120,000

Mark Penfold, Director of Skip-It Containers Ltd, pleaded guilty to Regulation 5(1) and Regulation 6(2) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was given a 16 week custodial sentence, suspended for nine months, as well as a fine of £2293.00.

Rachael Penfold, Director of Skip-It Containers Ltd, pleaded guilty to Regulation 5(1) and Regulation 6(2) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was given a 16 week custodial sentence, suspended for nine months, as well as a fine of £2293.00.

Speaking after the case, HSE Inspector Susie Beckett said: “Through their inaction, the directors allowed health and safety standards, including machinery safety standards, to deteriorate to such a point that dangerous situations developed.

“This injury was easily prevented and the risk should have been identified. Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery”