A TOWN firm was fined £6,000 after a worker had his finger cut off.

The Health and Safety Executive hauled Bacol Fine Blanking Limited, of Aston Fields, before Redditch magistrates' court last Wednesday.

The firm pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to ensure the safety of its employees, so far as reasonably practical, when using drilling machines.

Employee Charles Haslam suffered serious injuries when his hand became entangled in the rotating tool of a drilling machine on January 30, 2003. His finger was amputated but sown back on in hospital.

An investigation by the HSE revealed that a similar accident occurred a year before, although the injuries had not been as serious.

Following the most recent incident, the HSE ruled that inadequate guarding of the machinery was one of the main contributing factors.

Mr Haslam was also supplied with inappropriate gloves, which increased the risk of having his hand tangled in the machinery. He should have been wearing gloves which would tear more easily, should the hand become trapped, said the HSE

The firm was fined £6,000 and was ordered to pay £1,628 in costs. The Advertiser/Messenger contacted Mr Haslam, of Hillside Drive, Lickey End, and Bacol Fine Blanking but both parties declined to comment.

Bacol Fine Blanking Limited, which is based in Sherwood Road, employs around 140 people. The firm makes components for the automotive, defence, domestic and electronic industries.