HEREFORDSHIRE crisp maker Tyrrells has been fined £8,000 for safety failings after an employee lost the tip of his finger in a potato fryer.

The company, based in Stretford Bridge, Leominster, pleaded guilty to the case brought by the Health and Safety Executive to a charge of negligence.

At Hereford Magistrates Court on Monday, the court heard how a 35-year-old employee lost the tip of his middle finger on November 7, 2012 after he tried to clean part of the potato fryer called the chain and sprocket.

Tom Cleary, representing the H&S executive, said the area should have been covered by a guard to prevent the accident and the responsibility lies with the employer and not the employee.

Following the accident, the company took steps to ensure the chain and sprocket was covered completely by a guard on all the machines.

Mr Cleary said: "This case is about eliminating risks so people are not injured prior to the injury, not after."

He said the employee had been instructed verbally how to use the machine but there was no written documentation on how to clean it.

Employees were given paddles to carry out the job, but it was suggested these could be awkward to use.

Mr Cleary added: "He reached in with his hand, because he could, to release some product that was catching in that area. In doing so, the machine started up and amputated the top of his finger."

After the accident the company introduced a written procedure and instructed the machine must be turned off before any cleaning was carried out.

Sue Deardon, representing Tyrrells, said the company regretted the accident had happened but health and safety checks had failed to notice the lack of guard.

She said for the accident to happen three factors had to be in place- a lack of guard; an employee reaching over the fryer to use their hands to clean it and a failure to turn off the machine.

She said: "It is difficult for the company to understand why anyone would put their hands into this area."

The employee was off work until January 2, 2013 and was paid in full. Mrs Deardon said he has made a full recovery.

Magistrates fined Tyrrells £8,000 and they were ordered to pay £5,000 in costs.

A Tyrrells spokesman said: "Since the incident in November 2012 the company has invested considerably in amending the equipment design to ensure there are no further accidents.

"A financial settlement with the employee has been made and he remains a valued member of the workforce."