A factory worker who lost part of his finger in a mixing machine said today justice had been done after his firm was fined £3,000 by Selby magistrates.

Gary Clay, a boilerman at Hazlewood Preserves, Barlby, said he would now be pursuing a compensation claim with the help of his union.

The sauce and pickle company admitted failing to make a suitable risk assessment of the mixing machine, breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act.

John Rowe, prosecuting on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive, said Mr Clay had gone to help his colleague, John Kierons, in the sauce brewing department after the machine had become blocked.

He said the machine, which was mixing oil and water for salad dressings, was "prone" to blockages. This was unknown to management, and operators often used their own methods to clear it.

After several attempts to unblock it, the two workers decided to remove the pipes.

While working on top of the machine to unscrew a nut, Mr Clay noticed an inlet was also blocked and attempted to scoop it clear by hand.

Mr Rowe said his client declined to use a hose for fear of contaminating the product and "getting into trouble".

While scooping his third handful, a rotating paddle which had been left switched on sliced off the top of his left-hand middle finger.

Mr Rowe said a risk assessment would have taken into account the frequency of blockages, proper instructions in how to clear them and the dangers involved.

He said: "The absence of a risk assessment had serious consequences."

Francoise Snape, defending, said Mr Clay had received eight hours training on the mixing machine.

She said: "A detailed risk assessment of the machine is now in place and workers are very clear about what to do."

Mr Clay, 38, of St Mary's Avenue, Hemingbrough, said later he was "lucky" that Mr Kierons was a trained first-aider and was able to treat him at the scene.

He was off work for nearly five months and underwent two operations in York District Hospital.

He said he could no longer play guitar because of the injury and his grip had weakened.

Mr Clay added: "I'm pleased that Hazlewood has accepted responsibility and that justice has been done."

Updated: 14:31 Wednesday, January 24, 2001