Pet food firm fined £3,000
Thursday, 12th October 2000.
A PET food firm where an employee contracted meningitis after working with pig offal has been fined £3,000 for breaching health and safety regulations.
Sudbury magistrates heard that Ralph Grimwood, 63, of Chainey Pieces, Haverhill, was now profoundly deaf and seriously disabled by the illness he developed while working at Acorn Pet Foods, of Homefield Road, Haverhill.
Mr Grimwood, who worked for the firm for nine years, became extremely ill in November 1997 and went to hospital with a fever and complete deafness. He was diagnosed with streptococcus suis, a bacterial infection which leads to meningitis.
The company admitted three offences between 1995 and 1999 of failing to adequately protect Mr Grimwood and other employees from the bacteria, failing to give them information about the danger or training and failing to carry out a risk assessment. It was fined £1,000 on each charge and ordered to pay £2,142 costs.
Martin Kneebone, prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive, said its investigations revealed hygiene standards at the firm had been very poor for many years but, since new owners took over last year, the position had improved.
Staff were not told of the need to cover cuts when working with knives in the pig offal, and it was common for them to go into the canteen wearing blood-stained overalls and boots.
Waste chicken and pork was taken home for pet and human consumption, with rats and maggots found on the factory floor. Mr Grimwood's illness was associated with contact with pigs and almost certainly contracted through his work, Mr Kneebone said.
Jeremy Cook, defending, said his clients, Acacia Meats, had taken over the company in July 1999 and were not aware of Mr Grimwood's illness until a civil action was launched against them. Health and Safety procedures had been introduced since they took over the company to avoid danger to staff.
Brenda Chadwick, Mr Grimwood's sister, said his civil claim against the firm would continue. He had an unsuccessful ear implant in 1997 and nothing more could be done to improve his hearing. "There is no comparison between his life before and what it is now," Mrs Chadwick said.
Sudbury magistrates heard that Ralph Grimwood, 63, of Chainey Pieces, Haverhill, was now profoundly deaf and seriously disabled by the illness he developed while working at Acorn Pet Foods, of Homefield Road, Haverhill.
Mr Grimwood, who worked for the firm for nine years, became extremely ill in November 1997 and went to hospital with a fever and complete deafness. He was diagnosed with streptococcus suis, a bacterial infection which leads to meningitis.
The company admitted three offences between 1995 and 1999 of failing to adequately protect Mr Grimwood and other employees from the bacteria, failing to give them information about the danger or training and failing to carry out a risk assessment. It was fined £1,000 on each charge and ordered to pay £2,142 costs.
Martin Kneebone, prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive, said its investigations revealed hygiene standards at the firm had been very poor for many years but, since new owners took over last year, the position had improved.
Staff were not told of the need to cover cuts when working with knives in the pig offal, and it was common for them to go into the canteen wearing blood-stained overalls and boots.
Waste chicken and pork was taken home for pet and human consumption, with rats and maggots found on the factory floor. Mr Grimwood's illness was associated with contact with pigs and almost certainly contracted through his work, Mr Kneebone said.
Jeremy Cook, defending, said his clients, Acacia Meats, had taken over the company in July 1999 and were not aware of Mr Grimwood's illness until a civil action was launched against them. Health and Safety procedures had been introduced since they took over the company to avoid danger to staff.
Brenda Chadwick, Mr Grimwood's sister, said his civil claim against the firm would continue. He had an unsuccessful ear implant in 1997 and nothing more could be done to improve his hearing. "There is no comparison between his life before and what it is now," Mrs Chadwick said.
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