Firms forced to pay out £20,000 after employee loses fingers
10:38 - 29/06/2011
Firms forced to pay out £20,000 afte...
Two firms have been fined a combined total of £4,000 and ordered to pay a further £16,000 in prosecution costs after an employee lost his thumb, index finger and most of his middle finger in an accident at work.
Non-Flam (Sawdust) Co Ltd and KSR (UK) Ltd both manufacture products used to absorb chemical and oil spillages and leaks. They share directors and operate from neighbouring premises in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. An employee of Non-Flam (Sawdust) Co Ltd was directed to carry out work for KSR (UK) Ltd on 29th October 2008.
The worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, was operating a ‘carding’ machine at KSR (UK) Ltd’s site at the time of the accident. His right hand became trapped when he reached inside the machine to remove fibres which had become attached to the teeth of the two rotating rollers. As a result, he sustained serious injuries.
The two firms were prosecuted at Redditch Magistrate’s Court. Non-Flam (Sawdust) Co Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and were ordered to pay a £1,000 fine and £8,000 in costs. KSR (UK) Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and were ordered to pay a £3,000 fine and a further £8,000 in costs.
The court heard how an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that KSR had no measures in place to guard the machine, despite long-standing guidance which stipulates that there must be a perimeter fence to prevent access. Additionally, Non-Flam (Sawdust) Co Ltd had failed to carry out a risk assessment for the work which their employee was undertaking for KSR (UK) Ltd.
Commenting on the case, HSE Inspector Ritchie McCrae said: “This incident was entirely preventable and could have resulted in the loss of the man’s hand.
“The dangers of using machines without suitable guarding are well known and long-established; specifically guidance on the use of carding machines has been available for many years. Yet neither company identified this machine as hazardous and continued to allow employees to operate it. In so doing, they clearly failed to ensure the safety of their employees.”
Darren Emery, Business Development Director at First Response, says: “There have been countless stories in the news about companies being prosecuted and receiving fines after employees have suffered horrifying and preventable injuries at work. Yet, many companies still think that skipping on health and safety training will save them money. In reality, it can come at a huge cost – both financial and emotional.
“It is important that employers are aware of their duties under law with regards to the health and safety of their employees, and that staff members are also properly trained to enable them to carry out their work as safely as possible. In reality, regulatory bodies such as the HSE and IOSH aren’t expecting companies to do the impossible – they are just expecting them to do all that is reasonably practicable to create a safe working environment. First Response Training supports this aim and offers a wide range of training to help achieve it.”
For more information, please call First Response today on free phone 0800 310 2300.
Non-Flam (Sawdust) Co Ltd and KSR (UK) Ltd both manufacture products used to absorb chemical and oil spillages and leaks. They share directors and operate from neighbouring premises in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. An employee of Non-Flam (Sawdust) Co Ltd was directed to carry out work for KSR (UK) Ltd on 29th October 2008.
The worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, was operating a ‘carding’ machine at KSR (UK) Ltd’s site at the time of the accident. His right hand became trapped when he reached inside the machine to remove fibres which had become attached to the teeth of the two rotating rollers. As a result, he sustained serious injuries.
The two firms were prosecuted at Redditch Magistrate’s Court. Non-Flam (Sawdust) Co Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and were ordered to pay a £1,000 fine and £8,000 in costs. KSR (UK) Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and were ordered to pay a £3,000 fine and a further £8,000 in costs.
The court heard how an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that KSR had no measures in place to guard the machine, despite long-standing guidance which stipulates that there must be a perimeter fence to prevent access. Additionally, Non-Flam (Sawdust) Co Ltd had failed to carry out a risk assessment for the work which their employee was undertaking for KSR (UK) Ltd.
Commenting on the case, HSE Inspector Ritchie McCrae said: “This incident was entirely preventable and could have resulted in the loss of the man’s hand.
“The dangers of using machines without suitable guarding are well known and long-established; specifically guidance on the use of carding machines has been available for many years. Yet neither company identified this machine as hazardous and continued to allow employees to operate it. In so doing, they clearly failed to ensure the safety of their employees.”
Darren Emery, Business Development Director at First Response, says: “There have been countless stories in the news about companies being prosecuted and receiving fines after employees have suffered horrifying and preventable injuries at work. Yet, many companies still think that skipping on health and safety training will save them money. In reality, it can come at a huge cost – both financial and emotional.
“It is important that employers are aware of their duties under law with regards to the health and safety of their employees, and that staff members are also properly trained to enable them to carry out their work as safely as possible. In reality, regulatory bodies such as the HSE and IOSH aren’t expecting companies to do the impossible – they are just expecting them to do all that is reasonably practicable to create a safe working environment. First Response Training supports this aim and offers a wide range of training to help achieve it.”
For more information, please call First Response today on free phone 0800 310 2300.
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