Lodematic fined £42,000 after worker was blinded in one eye by a flailing hydraulic hose

Lodematic Components Ltd, a Clitheroe hydraulic cylinder manufacturer, was fined £42,835  after an employee was badly injured when he was struck in the face during a test procedure.

The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred when pressure testing a hydraulic cylinder.
• The test zone was not segregated or safeguarded. 
• The test equipment was not maintained and suitable for the task. 
• Lodematic Components had also failed to carry out a risk assessment.
• On 23 January 2014 a worker was helping pressure test a cylinder.
• The hose connector to the cylinder catastrophically failed and he was struck in the face by a pressurised hose. 
• The worker suffered a broken jaw multiple facial lacerations and total blindness in his right eye.

The HSE inspector said:“Lodematic (Components) Limited failed to assess the risks or provide a safe system of work for pressure testing hydraulic cylinders. The test was carried out without segregating or safeguarding the test zone, and the test connectors were not subject to maintenance or inspection. If these measures had been in place at the time of the incident then the employee’s life changing injuries could have been avoided.”