Canned fruit giant Princes has been fined for safety breaches after a worker suffered chemical burns.
Bradford Magistrates’ Court heard how Mark McLean, 41, was working at the company’s Bradford plant when a hose carrying a caustic substance spilt, spraying him with the solution.
He suffered chemical burns to the left side of his face and arms, and was also temporarily blinded during the incident.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that there was no evidence of preventative measures taken by the company before the incident, which occurred in July 2013.
Princes, of Weaverthorpe Road, Bradford, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and was fined £13,000 with £1,323 costs.
After the hearing on 1 December, HSE inspector Kate Dixon said: “The company failed to identify and eliminate the risk through good design, instruct employees correctly and instigate an inspection regime of the hoses and maintain the hoses in good working order.
“Had they done so, this accident would not have happened.”
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