WYE Valley Brewery has been fined £20,000 for safety failings, after an employee suffered a broken foot at the workplace.

The 34 year-old employee had gone into an empty ‘mash tun’, a large steel vessel used to cook barley in hot water, to clean it.

Unknown to him, the stirrer had been left running and his right foot became caught.

He rescued by colleagues and was off work for two days, but has since returned.

Health and safety executive inspector, Tariq Khan said: “Wye Valley Brewery had advice and information about devising safe systems of work for entry into confined spaces, but ignored it and failed to consider the risks to its employees.

“As a result, a man suffered a painful injury. He was very fortunate that colleagues heard his cries for help and managed to rescue him in time.”

Wye Valley Brewery has since invested in health and safety training and appointed a health and safety consultant.

A Health and Safety Executive investigation found the incident, on February 20 2013, could have been prevented had the company assessed the risks and taken appropriate action to control and manage them.

The investigation also found there was no safe system of work or an emergency rescue procedure.

Wye Valley Brewery Limited, based in Stoke Lacy, near Bromyard, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £9,632 in costs.

A spokeswoman for Wye Valley Brewery said: "Since the incident we have appointed a highly experienced health and safety consultant and completely overhauled our health and safety management system, as well as investing greatly in health and safety training.

"We have also made a very significant investment in a new brew-house which has been designed to industry best practice in terms of safety.

"This eliminates the possibility of a similar incident ever happening in the future.

"Wye Valley Brewery is a family business of fewer than 50 employees – all of whom are vital to our business - and the health and safety of our staff is of the utmost importance to us.

"We remain on good terms with the employee involved who thankfully does not have any lasting damage. He has progressed in his career since the incident nearly two years ago and now works for a valued supplier to our business."