Worker's arm caught between belt and roller on recycling equipment

Lancashire waste recycling company KT Recycling was fined £33,000 (inc.costs) after an employee was injured whilst operating unguarded machinery.

The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred on the delivery to a magnetic separator.
• Fixed guards had been removed several weeks before the incident.
• KT Recycling had no procedures to check fixed guards were in place.
• KT Recycling failed to provide suitable training in the safe use of the machine.
• KT Recycling failed to adequately supervise the operatives who used it.
• On 13 April 2017, an employee of KT Recycling Ltd attempted to remove waste material when his hand became trapped between the exposed conveyor belt and drive roller. 
• The incident caused extensive damage to his left forearm, leaving him with a lasting impairment in the use of his arm.

The HSE inspector said:
“This incident could easily have been avoided if the company had put procedures in place to ensure that guard plates were maintained correctly, and their use was properly supervised. HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”