IFG Drake Ltd fined £390,843 after employee was killed by an inadequately guarded machine

IFG Drake Ltd was fined £390,843 (inc.costs) after a worker suffered fatal crush injuries whilst working on a machine at the site in Huddersfield.

The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred on a synthetic fibre manufacturing machine.
• The machine was not adequately guarded. 
• Problems occur with laps, which are when fibres stick to the rollers of the machine and begin to wrap around them.
• It had become custom and practice for employees to reach around the inadequate guarding in place to deal with problems of this nature.
• On 24 March 2017, Mr Javeed Ghaffar, was working on this machine. 
• A lap had occurred on the stretch godet section of the machine.
• Mr Ghaffar was removing this lap by reaching past the guard whilst the machine was running.
• He became entangled in the machine.

The HSE inspector  commented:
“This was a tragic and wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure of the company to provide adequate guarding against dangerous parts of the machine. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards”