A CEMENT company has been fined £400,000 after an employee lost two fingers in an industrial accident at Dunbar Cement Plant.

Tarmac Cement and Lime Ltd was fined the amount following a hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last week.

The company, which has its head office at Bickenhill Lane in Birmingham, admitted failing to ensure the provision of moveable guards were fitted to an interlocking device connected to a rotary mill between January 2019 and April 2021.

Employee Robert Courtney was cleaning the equipment at the plant at Dunbar Cement Works on the outskirts of the town on April 30, 2021, when he came into contact with the rotary valve.

Court papers state that Mr Courtney had two fingers amputated due to the company’s negligence, which led to his injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment.

The firm admitted offences under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Section 31, 1, C.

Sheriff Ian Anderson sentenced the company to pay a fine of £400,000, to be paid within two months.