A frozen food manufacturer has been fined $180,000 after a worker's finger was cut in a dough-mixing machine.

Makmur Enterprises, which owns the brands Golden Wok, Emperor and Imperial Jade, had already been fined $345,000 in relation to five similar incidents since 2014.

In the most recent injury, a metal scraper used to move dough struck a rotating blade.

The worker’s finger was crushed between the scraper and another part of the machine, causing an injury that required hospital treatment.

WorkSafe Victoria chief health and safety officer Sam Jenkin says the Richmond-based company showed a “brazen disregard” for staff wellbeing.

“This is the sixth time Makmur has been prosecuted over inadequate guarding on their machinery, leaving workers with hands and fingers degloved, crushed, lacerated and amputated,” he said.

“WorkSafe has a trove of guidance on how to properly guard machinery ... there really are no excuses.”

The business was sentenced at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court yesterday after pleading guilty to failing to provide a safe working environment and an interlocking guard. The company must also pay $5816 in costs.

Makmur had installed a metal grill to reduce access to rotating agitator blades, but there were large gaps behind it.

The company admitted it could have used a fixed and openable guard, connected to an interlock, to block the danger area.

WorkSafe says employers should train staff and provide written procedures in a worker’s first language; consult with staff and health and safety representatives; ensure safety guards and gates are compliant and fixed to machines at all times; regularly service and inspect equipment; and place signs near machines to alert employees to dangers.

Free safety consultations are offered by WorkSafe to help manufacturing employers meet their obligations.