Vladislavs Golovacs's arm was severed at Pinden Quarry, Longfield

A recycling firm has been fined £10,000 after a worker lost most of his arm in a freak accident at a landfill site.

Vladislavs Golovacs, 45, had his arm severed when it became entangled in an industrial-sized conveyor belt.

The Latvian national, from Gravesend, was attempting to clear a blockage at Pinden Quarry, in Longfield.

His left hand and forearm were amputated by an unguarded conveyor system on December 20, 2010.

Dartford magistrates heard the conveyor belt - used to transfer waste into a sorting shed - was juddering and virbrating after becoming blocked by stones.

Mr Golovacs, an agency worker contracted to work for Pinden Limited, should have stopped the machine before removing the debris.

Instead, he removed the stones with the power still running - and his left arm became trapped.

It was ripped from his body between his shoulder and elbow - leaving just a quarter of the limb intact.

Mr Golovacs was airlifted to hospital, but surgeons were unable to reattach his arm. He has been unable to return to work since.

Pinden Limited was sentenced at Dartford Magistrates' Court

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the incident and found there was no guarding in place to prevent access to dangerous moving parts on the conveyor.

Mr Golovacs had also received no training on how to safely clear blockages.

Pinden Limited, registered to Waldens Depot, in Waldens Road, Orpington, pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety laws.

It was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay more than £11,500 in costs.

HSE inspector Andrew McGill said: "This was a horrific incident that was entirely preventable had appropriate guarding been fitted, and had Mr Golovacs been properly trained in how to clear a blockage.

"He knows to his cost that dangerous moving parts should be properly restricted when in operation, and isolated if access is required.

"However, it was the responsibility of Pinden Limited to ensure that happened - which it clearly didn't on this occasion.

"Safe systems of work must be of paramount importance at all times."