Firms fined £75,000 after worker is dragged through 125mm gap
15:47 - 28/07/2011
Firms fined £75,000 after worker is ...
An engineering firm and its German-based supplier have been issued with fines totalling £75,000 for a horrific accident in which a worker was dragged through a 125mm gap.
South Yorkshire firm, Compass Engineering Ltd, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and were ordered to pay a £45,000 fine plus court costs of £24,000. Machine suppliers Kaltenbach Ltd also pleaded guilty to contravening the same legislation and were ordered to pay a £30,000 fine plus £16,000 in costs.
The firms may have had to pay out a combined total of £115,000, but the victim of the accident, whose life has “changed forever” as a result of his injuries, has stated: “What matters most is that the industry learns from my experience.”
Matthew Lowe, an employee of Compass Engineering, was working at the company’s site in Barnsley at the time of the incident on 19th December 2008. He became caught on a computer controlled conveyer system after peering into an outlet point to check a line of work. As a result, he was forced through a space the size of a CD case between a moving part and a wall.
Mr Lowe suffered a ruptured stomach and bowel, a shattered pelvis, a broken back and a fractured right arm, hips and ribs. He was just 23 at the time, and his injuries have caused lasting physical and psychological damage.
He says: “Too many people are needlessly killed and injured in accidents at work. If hearing my story makes them think twice about safety and about the daily risks they face in the workplace, then I’ll be happy. I know more than most why that is so important – and I really hope that message gets through.”
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that there was no guarding around the dangerous moving parts of the machine and that Matthew had been left to operate it despite the fact that he was inexperienced and did not usually carry out work in that area. Although the machine belonged to and was used by Compass Engineering, it had been installed and signed-off as fit for use by Kaltenbach limited, meaning both firms were culpable for the incident.
Thousands of workplace accidents occur in the UK every year, particularly in high-risk industries such as engineering and manufacturing. First Response Training aim to create safe working environments through the UK through their wide range of health and safety training interventions for all industry sectors.
Darren Emery, Development Director at First Response, says: “Work-related accidents and ill-health can have a huge financial, legal and, most importantly, human cost for employers, workers and their families.
“We work with companies from all industry sectors across the UK to help maximise their training and development, offering a range of innovative delivery methods to help reduce costs without risking safety and quality standards. Call us today to find out about our direct provision courses, e-learning programmes and distance learning manuals. We are also able to offer accredited training and develop bespoke solutions specifically for your organisation.”
For more information, please call First Response today on free phone 0800 310 2300.
South Yorkshire firm, Compass Engineering Ltd, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and were ordered to pay a £45,000 fine plus court costs of £24,000. Machine suppliers Kaltenbach Ltd also pleaded guilty to contravening the same legislation and were ordered to pay a £30,000 fine plus £16,000 in costs.
The firms may have had to pay out a combined total of £115,000, but the victim of the accident, whose life has “changed forever” as a result of his injuries, has stated: “What matters most is that the industry learns from my experience.”
Matthew Lowe, an employee of Compass Engineering, was working at the company’s site in Barnsley at the time of the incident on 19th December 2008. He became caught on a computer controlled conveyer system after peering into an outlet point to check a line of work. As a result, he was forced through a space the size of a CD case between a moving part and a wall.
Mr Lowe suffered a ruptured stomach and bowel, a shattered pelvis, a broken back and a fractured right arm, hips and ribs. He was just 23 at the time, and his injuries have caused lasting physical and psychological damage.
He says: “Too many people are needlessly killed and injured in accidents at work. If hearing my story makes them think twice about safety and about the daily risks they face in the workplace, then I’ll be happy. I know more than most why that is so important – and I really hope that message gets through.”
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that there was no guarding around the dangerous moving parts of the machine and that Matthew had been left to operate it despite the fact that he was inexperienced and did not usually carry out work in that area. Although the machine belonged to and was used by Compass Engineering, it had been installed and signed-off as fit for use by Kaltenbach limited, meaning both firms were culpable for the incident.
Thousands of workplace accidents occur in the UK every year, particularly in high-risk industries such as engineering and manufacturing. First Response Training aim to create safe working environments through the UK through their wide range of health and safety training interventions for all industry sectors.
Darren Emery, Development Director at First Response, says: “Work-related accidents and ill-health can have a huge financial, legal and, most importantly, human cost for employers, workers and their families.
“We work with companies from all industry sectors across the UK to help maximise their training and development, offering a range of innovative delivery methods to help reduce costs without risking safety and quality standards. Call us today to find out about our direct provision courses, e-learning programmes and distance learning manuals. We are also able to offer accredited training and develop bespoke solutions specifically for your organisation.”
For more information, please call First Response today on free phone 0800 310 2300.
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