Presbar Diecastings Ltd, fined £149,788 after worker suffers serious burns

Manchester aluminium diecasting producer Presbar Diecastings Ltd,was fined £149,788 (inc.costs) after a worker suffered life threatening injuries when he became trapped in a machine.

The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred on am aluminium diecasting machine.
• The machine was only partially guarded making access to the ladle possible.
• This was despite there being a risk assessment in place at the time of the incident identifying the hazard of contact or entrapment with the ladle
• On 7 July 2015 a worker had entered the middle of the aluminium diecasting machine between the furnace pot and the front bar to clear a build up of metal.
• Whilst carrying out this routine procedure the robot arm started to move, the worker tried to move out of the way but was trapped by the ladle containing 400 C molten metal attached to the robot arm.
• He suffered a cardiac arrest and fourth degree burns.

The HSE Inspector said:
“A man suffered life changing injuries which could have been prevented if the machine had been properly guarded. Employers should ensure that they regularly check, assess and review the guarding on their machinery to ensure that all access to dangerous parts in prevented.”