Recycling firms will wish to ensure they operate machinery such as belt conveyors in as safe an environment as possible, after one company was sued £10,000 for an accident which resulted in a worker lost his leg.
WSR Recycling, which is based in Cheshire, was hit with the fine after an unnamed worker lost part of his leg due to it being crushed.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) used the case to highlight the importance for all firms operating heavy machinery to make sure they are not relaxed over safety.
Chris Goddard, investigating inspector for the HSE, added that the worker was "very fortunate not to have been killed" and stressed the importance of proper safety procedures being in place at waste management firms.
As well as the £10,000 fine, the waste management company also had to pay £6,338 towards the cost of the prosecution.
Meanwhile, a £5 million waste recycling scheme has been approved for London, which will see flats across the capital equipped with recycling chutes.
