Recycling firm fined £71,000 after worker loses his arm.

Recresco Ltd., a recycling firm, was fined £71,625 (inc.costs) after an agency worker lost his arm.

The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred at the Ellesmere Port site on 26 January 2014.
• The company had failed to assess the risks associated with working on moving conveyor belts 
• They had failed to ensure that the machinery across their site was properly guarded.
• The company did not have a safe system of work in place. 
• There was insufficient information, instruction or training relating to the conveyors, which routinely exposed their workers to dangerous situations.
• Philip Grace was carrying out maintenance work on a glass sorting machine.
• His safety glove got caught on a moving conveyor which was part of the machine.
• His arm was pulled into the machine and severed from above the wrist.
• Attempts to reattach his hand were unsuccessful.

The HSE Inspector said:
“Philip Grace’s life has been deeply affected by this entirely preventable incident. The need for safe systems of work, correct guarding, staff being trained and risk assessments being carried out are the basics of health and safety for a company like Recresco Ltd. Companies must recognise the need for proper safe systems of work, guarding and training to protect workers who are operating or maintaining heavy machinery like the conveyor belts used in the recycling industry.”