Wrigley's fined after arm injury

The Wrigley Company is the biggest gum manufacturer in the UK

The chewing gum maker Wrigley's has been fined £150,000 after an employee suffered severe arm injuries as he cleaned a moving production line.

Philip Poyntz's arm was nearly ripped off at the company's factory in Estover, Plymouth, in January 2007.

The 30-year-old from Plymouth is still unable to work because of his injuries.

The company, which admitted two health and safety offences, had ignored two warnings about a lack of guards on the equipment, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

There needs to be consistent training and consistent information for staff David Cory, Health and Safety Executive

Jo Martin, prosecuting, said Mr Poyntz needed six hours of surgery after the accident, which left him with serious nerve and muscle damage.

She told the court the risk was identified in 2002 and 2006, but there was a "culture of complacency" at the time.

John Cooper, defending, said safety was the company's first priority, highlighted by its lack of previous convictions for health and safety issues.

Judge Francis Gilbert QC told the company: "Mr Poyntz is 30 and was very seriously injured and has yet to be able to return to work and is awaiting further plastic surgery.

"He is clearly left at a relatively young age with permanent and severe disabilities."

'Deeply sorry'

Speaking after the hearing, David Cory from the Health and Safety Executive said Mr Poyntz had been seen cleaning the moving machinery before and nobody from the company had told him not to.

"There needs to be consistent training and consistent information for staff so they know how to do a job properly," Mr Cory told BBC News.

Also speaking after the case, Wrigley's managing director Gharry Eccles said the company had failed in its duty of care and was "deeply sorry" for the injuries caused to Mr Poyntz.

In a statement he said: "We have invested £3m in new health and safety equipment since 2007 and safety is, and will always be, our first priority.

"It is clear however, that on this occasion we failed."

The Wrigley Company had commissioned a review of the factory's health and safety policies and intended to learn lessons from the accident, Mr Eccles added.

The company is the UK's biggest chewing and bubble gum maker.

It employs about 350 workers in Plymouth, but is in the process of cutting 50 jobs.