An employee suffered serious hand injuries while cleaning a machine on only his fourth day working for a furniture maker.

The man lost a finger and had three more reattached in hospital after the incident at Richmond Cabinet Company Ltd in Glossop, Derbyshire, in May 2014.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which brought the case, said it was the second time the company had been prosecuted after a worker lost a finger.

In the latest case, the worker was cleaning wood dust from an unguarded machine when his right hand came into contact with a saw blade, cutting off four fingers.

Three were successfully sewn back on but he lost part of his little finger, as well as the feeling in another finger.

The firm admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £20,000 and ordered to it to pay £12,649 by Derby Crown Court.

“It is deeply disappointing that this company failed to prevent another operative amputating a finger on one of their machines,” said HSE Inspector Stuart Parry.

“The HSE prosecuted Richmond Cabinet Company Limited in April 2013 following a similar incident.”

Macks Solicitors in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Darlington have a wealth of experience of recovering compensation for people who have been injured in workplace accidents. Fill out our claim form to arrange a consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers.