An international contractor has been fined £2000 for a breach in Health and Safety, which left an Ballymena employee seriously injured.

Dickenson Legg Ltd received the fine, plus costs, after pleading guilty at Ballymena Magistrates Court on Tuesday (23 June).

The firm breached Regulation 5 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.

The case arose following the investigation of an incident which occurred in November 2004 at the Gallaher's Tobacco Factory Ballymena.

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The injured party - Martin Hughes who was employed by a sub-contractor engaged by Dickenson Legg Ltd - was cleaning the rollers on a rotating conveyor belt when his left hand became trapped in the in-running nip point.

He sustained serious injury to his left shoulder and arm.

Resident Magistrate Mr Perry said the company had substantial responsibility for people not in their employment and that this was a serious injury. He also commented on their previous good record and £56m global turnover.

Following the hearing Ken Logan Principal Construction Inspector (HSENI) said: "This was a serious incident that could easily have resulted in a worker being killed. The system of work employed in this incident was totally unacceptable.

"This work was being carried out during the commissioning stage of the project and it is vitally important to ensure that at all times safe systems of work are fully employed. The construction industry must learn from this incident and take firm action to ensure it is not repeated."

(PR/JM)