Lack of guarding causes loss of 2 fingers in power press

Roberts Metal Packaging Limited, a London-based metal packaging company was fined £10,520 (inc.costs) after a worker trapped his hand in a power press and lost two fingers.

The circumstances were:

• The company had failed to prevent access to this dangerous part of the machinery.
• An employee got his left hand trapped underneath the punch on a mechanical power-press.
• He suffered severe damage to his hand including the loss of 2 fingers

Company fined £287,000 after confined space incident

John Pointon and Sons Limited, a food waste disposal and recycling firm, was fined £287,362 (inc.costs) after three employees were overcome by toxic gases, including hydrogen sulphide, and a reduced oxygen atmosphere in an animal waste facility.

The circumstances were:

• The company had been prosecuted twice before for two fatal incidents which involved confined space entry.
• The company still had no confined spaces procedure.
• On 23 April 2014, an employee accessed a compartment within an animal waste trailer to free animal waste and was overcome by the gases.
• Subsequently, two further employees entered the waste compartment and were also overcome by the gases.

Hereford company and their H&S advisor fined after person became skin sensitised to ingredients in rubber sealant

Hereford-based TRP Polymer Solutions Limited, which manufactures rubber sealants, was fined £46,529 (inc.costs) after a worker contracted allergic contact dermatitis.

The circumstances were:

• Employees were exposed to sensitising ingredients in rubber compounds.
• The company’s health and safety advisor failed to understand the underlying issues to the level required for the company to understand its responsibilities.
• The company failed to assess risks from products used or manage those risks.
• The employee contracted the skin disease

The company’s health and safety advisor was fined £1200 (inc.costs) for failing to carry out her duty under the act to a level of competence expected by someone carrying out her role.

Don't omit to gather evidence at the time of an accident at work

Of course, what we really want to do is avoid accidents but they sometimes happen.

If someone has been injured, then the first task must be to carry out first aid and call an ambulance if appropriate. 
And then you need to ensure that the workplace is safe.

But, you mustn't relax once that is done and I've seen many instances where people have failed to carry out the following steps:

1. Take photographs of the accident scene. It may be necessary to do some of this before the workplace is made safe. As cameras are now on everyone's mobile phone, then this is dead easy.
2. Gather any items which may be relevant to the accident.  Even if they are broken, do not throw these away.
3. Then carry out an investigation

More information on how to investigate an accident are available at http://bit.ly/1UiTAsV

£227,000 fine for hand arm vibration cases.

Asset International Limited, a pipe manufacturing company based in Newport, was fined £227,724 (inc.costs) for seven instances of safety failings caused by the use of vibrating tools.

The circumstances were:

• Employees of Asset International Limited used vibrating tools.
• Neither a sufficient risk assessment nor health surveillance had been carried out.
• Proper training had not been carried out and there were no practical controls to reduce vibration risk.
• There were seven reported cases of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) between April 2014 and July 2015.

The HSE inspector said: “The serious and irreversible risks from Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome caused by work with vibrating tools are well known and guidance has been in place since the early 1990s. This case shows there is no excuse for not putting in place a management system which includes risk assessment, control measures, health surveillance and information and training to reduce these risks to as low a level as is reasonably practicable.”

Balfour Beatty fined £2.6M following death when trench collapsed.

Balfour Beatty was fined £2.6 million plus £54,000 costs after an employee was killed when the trench he was working in collapsed on him in Lancashire.
The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred on an onshore site connected to an offshore windfarm that was being built off the coast by Heysham, Lancashire.  
• There was a trench dug to a depth of 2.4 metres, without any shoring.
• Balfour Beatty failed to adequately risk assess the works or control the way in which the excavation took place.
• James Sim was a 32-year-old sub-contractor working on behalf of Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions Limited.
• Mr Sim was killed when he became trapped in the trench after it collapsed on him.

The HSE inspector said : 
“The level of this fine should serve as a warning to industry not to ignore health and safety matters. Balfour Beatty failed to adequately assess, plan and supervise the work being undertaken. Trench collapses are easy to prevent, and it is disappointing that James’ life was lost in such a tragic way. The family has shown great patience and support throughout this investigation which is a credit to both them and James’ memory.”

SSS note:  This is very similar to the first case brought under the Corporate Manslaughter Act against Cotswold Geotech where a trench collapsed.

McCains fined £800,000 and employee nearly lost arm

Major frozen food manufacturer McCains was fined £812,831 (inc.costs) for safety failings after an employee nearly lost his arm.

The circumstances were:

• A risk assessment of the machine by the company failed to recognise the danger of unguarded areas on a bypass conveyor.
• The conveyor did not have the correct guards fitted.
• A 34-year-old employee was attempting to check the condition of the head roller on the conveyor. 
• While doing this his arm became entangled in the machinery and his arm was almost severed. 
• Although his arm was saved, he now has limited movement in his hand.