A JUDGE has imposed a £600,000 fine on a north Cumbrian industrial firm where a worker suffered a horrifying hand injury.

Machine operator Matthew Hook had to have four of his fingers partially amputated after his left hand was trapped in a machine at the Sig Trading factory close to Welton, near Carlisle, on October 21, 2015.

Bosses at the firm - formerly A Steadman & Son - admitted failing to ensure the health and safety of employees.

At Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Craig Hassall outlined how Mr Hook was working at a machine which folded metal sheets to make steel roofing and cladding, used in farm buildings.

The machine was guarded by a light-curtain, which switched it off if interrupted. This stopped operators getting close to moving parts.

But a “dangerous” practice evolved of workers bypassing this safety feature, so they could work closer to the machine with smaller pieces of steel. Mr Hook was within the guarded area when he was injured. “There was no emergency stop button within reach,” said Mr Hassall.

Yet a Health & Safety Executive official identified this risk in 2009, telling the firm to improve the guarding mechanism. In 2013, an internal health and safety risk assessment noted workers still worked inside the “light curtain” area.

The report said: “There is a risk of persons’ hands being crushed...Persons should be prevented from working inside the light beam.” A 2014 risk assessment failed to mentiont hat this dangerous practice was continuing.

Mr Hassall highlighted Sig Trading’s “poor” health and safety record.

This included convictions for health and safety offences, including one in 2011 when an employee was run over by a forklift truck; and one the next year when a person was crushed between a lorry and a loading bay. The defendant had also been served with “numerous” improvement notices.

Samuel Green QC, defending, said Sig Trading took appropriate remedial action following the 2015 accident. “The company has shown commendable commitment to health and safety,” he said.

It had also Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents awards for its proven adherence to health and safety, he said. Judge Peter Davies said: “This is not a company which encouraged or perpetuated systematic dangerous practice.

“But a dangerous practice existed and it was not properly supervised or monitored. Risks were known. Risks were not addressed and they ought to have been. Systems were in place but were not sufficiently adhered to or implemented.”

As well as the fine, the judge ordered Sig Trading to pay £23,593.83 in costs. He added: “These were life-changing injuries. He [Mr Hook] continues to suffer considerable pain and disruption to his life. This accident, regrettably, could have been avoided.”