a RECYCLING firm has been fined more than £100,000 after a worker severed his arm while trying to clear a conveyor belt.

Steven Dawson, 28, needed two operations and will require further surgery after the incident at the Lowmac Alloys Ltd's premises in Irvine in February 2011.

He has not been able to return to work.

Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard that Mr Dawson was trying to fix a blockage when his left arm touched the moving belt and the bottom of the pulley, resulting in his arm being severed at the shoulder. Doctors were unable to reattach it, the court said.

The company, of Green Street Lane, Ayr, admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £118,000.

Health and Safety Executive Inspector Mark Carroll said: "Lowmac Alloys Ltd had identified there was a high risk of crushing and trapping in the machinery, however, the company failed to provide interlocking guarding to the gate over the conveyor which would have cut power to the machinery when it was opened.

"As a consequence of this breach, Mr Dawson suffered a horrific, life changing injury," he went on to say.