Published March 12, 2018 at 15:38
A director of a food company was described as ‘cavalier’ in court after letting his staff use a dangerous machine without adequate safety guards.
Driss Bouzzid, a director of Driss Foods Ltd trading as Jo Jo’s in Waterfoot, Rossendale appeared at Burnley magistrates court on Friday (March 9).
The 55 year old resident of Waverley Road Blackburn pleaded guilty to two charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act. He was fined £830 for the allowing a pizza dough rolling machine to be used without a guard on March 28 and fined £1,000 for the same offence on March 29. He was also ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge.
The company was also fined £8,000 for the first offence and £10,000 for the second with a charge of £890 costs and a £170 victim surcharge.
An inspection at the premises on Burnley Road East in March found that an employee was using the equipment without adequate guards in place.
Bouzzid was advised about the issue however, when Council officers returned the following evening it was still being used without a guard.
Officers had previously warned the director about the machine over a number of visits over several years.
An assistant district judge presiding over the case described Bouzzid as ‘cavalier towards health and safety’ and stated that he was ‘highly culpable for the offences’.
Cllr Jackie Oakes, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health, said: “As we have shown in recent weeks the council is always prepared to safe guard people in the work place. Employers who ignore basic safety requirements for their staff should be thoroughly ashamed of their behaviour. We will not allow directors to hide behind the façade of a limited company when they are culpable for the commission of the offences.”