Food store fined over meat grinder left without safety guard
The owner of a Wellington food store has been ordered to pay more than £2,000 after a meat grinder was found to have no safety guard.
A borough council spokesman said the machine at Al-Madina could have taken an employee's arm off if they went to clean it, after owner Ali Raza pleaded guilty to one health and safety offence.
Inspectors spotted the machine without a guard on January 24 last year and served Raza with a prohibition notice.
The shop on Wellington's High Street was visited again in September and there was still no safety guard on the machine, which was capable of grinding 21lbs (9.5kg) of meat a minute.
At Telford Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Raza was fined £1,000 and told to pay £1,040 in costs and a victim surcharge of £100.
Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for enforcement, said: “Our food hygiene inspectors make dozens of visits every month.
"Not only does it lead to the awarding of a food hygiene rating, it brings to their attention other issues of concern which require urgent action.
“We have the safety of the employees at heart and it is important they are confident that the premises they work in are safe both for them and their customers.”
