Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) officials staged an unannounced raid on the Simms and Woods warehouse in Wyre Piddle, near Evesham, Worcestershire.

The investigation looked at how three gangmasters who provided the warehouse with workers were treating the staff.

Simms and Woods said it had immediately stopped using one of the gangmasters.

The raids were carried out on 11 December by the GLA, West Mercia Police and the Border and Immigration Agency.

Revoke licence

Officers also found that a minibus with no tax or insurance and only a single usable door was used to transport 14 workers to and from their homes to the warehouse.

They also said they found no accurate record of the number of workers employed there, or the workers' identities.

A GLA spokesman said the worker who had cut his finger was had been told by his supervisor to put clingfilm on it and continue with his work.

The spokesman added that the authority was currently assessing the information before deciding what action to take.

The GLA has the power to revoke the licence of any gangmaster.

Ethical trading

If that happens, the gangmaster must stop trading immediately or face penalties of up to 10 years in jail.

A spokesman for Simms and Woods said it had stopped using one gangmaster because of "health and safety infringements".

A statement said: "Simms and Woods only uses GLA licensed labour providers and has been fully co-operative with the GLA throughout their investigation.

"Initial feedback from the GLA at this point in time has highlighted that although we are pro-active in our controls over the use of gang labour, there are certain procedural aspects that the company could develop to help protect its agency work force."