A COMPANY has been fined £50,000 after a worker had the fingers of his left hand amputated after a works accident.

Bolton company Greater Manchester Waste Ltd were ordered to pay the fine together with costs of £6,750 at Minshull Street Crown Court after pleading guilty to three charges of breaching the Health and Safety Act.

Employee Dean Aldred, aged 47, had his fingers and the tip of his thumb amputated and the flesh was ripped off his hand, after an incident on December 18, 2005, when his hand was drawn into an in-running nip on a rotary screen.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Tom Merry said: "This was a routine task that went wrong with tragic consequences for Mr Aldred.

"This case highlights the importance of undertaking proper risk assessments relating to work activities."

The incident happened at Greater Manchester Waste Ltd's Salford Materials Recovery facility at Cobden Street, Salford. The company, which is based at Higher Swan Lane in Bolton, pleaded guilty to breaches to the sections of the Health and Safety Act.