Lack of guarding causes arm injury on roll forming machine

Agricultural engineering company Malcolm E Taylor Ltd., was fined £14,967 (inc.costs) for serious safety failings after a worker was injured at its premises near Blackburn, Lancashire.

The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred on a roll forming machine used to make cladding for agricultural buildings.
• Malcolm E Taylor Ltd had failed to suitably guard the machine and it was possible to reach in-running nips.
• On 25 November 2016, a 17-year-old trainee was pulled into machinery.
• His left arm became trapped between the metal sheeting he was holding and rollers as it was fed into the machine. 
• He suffered extensive damage to his left forearm, leaving him in chronic pain and with significant impairment to the use of his arm.

The HSE inspector said:
“The dangers of unguarded machinery are well-known. If Malcolm E Taylor Ltd had ensured that suitable guarding was in place, then this incident would have been avoided. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take enforcement action when the required standards are not met”.