A MONMOUTH company has been fined more than £20,000 after an employee was blinded in one eye during an incident in February this year.

Mandarin Slate Ltd, trading as Mandarin Stone of Wonastow Industrial Estate, was ordered to pay the maximum fine of £20,000 plus full costs of £2,860 after pleading guilty to an offence under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The hearing took place on Friday 20th November at Newport Magistrates Court.

In February this year, an employee was blinded in one eye when a nail he was driving into a packing crate rebounded into his eye.

An accident investigation by the council’s specialist environmental health officers found that Mandarin Stone had failed to provide eye protection to its employees, as well as failing to assess the risks associated with packing crates of stone.

Improvement notices were served following the investigation and the company has since implemented a new system of work for this activity, including the provision of protective eyewear.

A spokesperson for Mandarin Stone said: “We’re devastated that a Mandarin employee was injured whilst working for the company, and have done everything we can to support him in his recovery.

“We have co-operated fully with the local authority throughout their investigations and have since carried out an intensive review of our operations and procedures to make sure all safety risks are mitigated.

“As a family business, we’re committed to looking after our employees and I’m delighted that he has decided to remain with the company in a newly-created role following the accident.

“Revised procedures are in place and Mandarin Stone is committed to ensuring all employees continue to receive the training and support they need to ensure such an accident can never happen again.”

Monmouthshire County Council Leader Peter Fox said: “The environmental health commercial team remains committed to the protection of public and employee health and safety throughout the county’s many businesses, using a range of proactive and reactive interventions to secure compliance – namely advice, education and through proportionate enforcement action.”