Hanson Packed Products fined £780,000 after fatality due to inadequate guarding

Manufacturing company Hanson Packed Products Ltd was fined £779,511 (inc.costs) after a 26 year old worker was fatally crushed when his arm was caught in a powered roller.

The circumstances were:

• On 25 September 2013 William Ridge was clearing sand around the base of an in-feed conveyor.
• There should have been fixed guards surrounding the powered roller to prevent access to the dangerous moving parts. 
• However, a critical guard was not in place and had not been for several days.
• There had been issues with the machinery on the previous day which Mr Ridge was trying to rectify at the time of the incident.
• His right arm was drawn into the roller and he suffered fatal injuries.

The HSE Principal Inspector said:
“This death of a young worker could and should have been prevented. Where safety depends on guards, employers need to regularly inspect them and be confident they are properly in place and that they are effective. Our thoughts are with the Ridge family as they prepare for another Christmas without William.”