Post updated 23.02.2017
Agency worker traps hand in machine
A polythene film manufacturer was sentenced for safety breaches after a worker trapped his hand in machinery.
Huddersfield Magistrates’ Court heard how the injured person broke the little finger on his right hand while operating machinery in March 2014 at Total Polyfilm Ltd.’s Brighouse plant.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company failed to adequately manage the risk of workers being injured when operating machinery. Also it was found the workers failed to operate in the correct way of working when using this equipment.
Total Polyfilm Ltd of Walton Summit Estate, Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancashire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and have been fined £6,000 and ordered to pay costs of £697.
After the hearing HSE inspector Jacqueline Ferguson commented: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
Operator’s finger crushed when the light curtains failed
Please read if you have any equipment using light curtains as a safety control device.
An employee was putting ID labels on packs of concrete blocks as they came out of the factory, the labels had to be hand fastened to the banding around the blocks which were on a stationary conveyor. When applying a label, he used his right hand to try and free some slack on the banding so he could get the label wrapped around it. He heard the conveyor system start up and the pack on his left hand side moved forward, which resulted in his right hand middle finger getting trapped and crushed between the packs.
The light barriers, which are intended to prevent conveyor start up with someone in the area, were not safety rated and were ‘fooled’ by the strip on the high visibility PPE worn by the employee, which reflected the beam back to the receiving sensor.
Fines and Prosecutions
Corrugated Packaging manufacturer fined over workplace injury
A West Bromwich supplier of corrugated packaging has been fined £400,000 with £9886.04 costs after a maintenance employee was injured when he was pulled into machinery. The injured person was repairing a cardboard printing, slotting and forming machine when he put his foot onto an exposed conveyor and was dragged into the machine’s moving parts. More information can be found on HSE’s Press Release.
Kent box manufacturing company fined for safety failings
A Kent-based box manufacturing company has been fined £297,000 and ordered to pay costs of £14,180 for health and safety failings which included electricity safety, machinery guarding and storage of materials. More information on the prosecution can be found on HSE’s Press Release.
Worker injures hand in printing press
A seal and label producing company based in Kent has been fined £160,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,680.80 after a worker Injured his hand in a printing press when cleaning a blade. HSE’s investigation found that no suitable guard was fitted to the machine and the system of work used was flawed and unsafe. More information on the prosecution can be found on HSE’s Press Release.
More information on Machinery Guarding and Safe Systems of Work can be found on HSE’s Website.
Fine after workers fall into pulping machine
A maintenance contracting company has been fined £120,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,591 after an employee fell 7 metres backwards off an unprotected edge whilst he was carrying out maintenance work to a drive shaft. More information on the prosecution can be found on HSE’s Press Release.
Food packaging firm fined when worker severs thumb
A packaging company has been fined £70,000 with £53,509 costs after a worker’s thumb was severed due to the company’s failure to take adequate measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery enabling the worker to access an unguarded frame. For more information on the accident and fine visit HSE’s Press Release.