Leeds and Bradford Boiler Co Ltd fined £127,690 after accident during a crane lifting operation.

Leeds and Bradford Boiler Co Ltd was fined £127,692 (inc. costs) after a machinist broke his upper arm and suffered crush injuries to his lower arm during a lifting operation on a machine tool.

The circumstances comprised the following:

• The accident occurred on 2 November 2018 whilst the employee was fitting a 2-tonne metal plate to a vertical borer so it could be machined.
• The plate was not sitting flush with the table due to dirt or debris.
• There was no assessment or safe system of work for lifting operations or what to do in this situation.
• He raised one side of the metal plate above the machine table using an overhead crane with C shaped hook so that he could clean underneath with a rag.
• While he was doing this the cover plate slipped off the lifting attachment trapping his arm underneath. 
• He has had to undergo several long operations on his lower and upper arm and is unlikely to regain full function in his right arm.

The HSE inspector commented: 
“Lifting operations and foreseeable activities including cleaning should be properly assessed and planned. Other employees were also at risk of injury by falling metal plates. This incident could so easily have been avoided by using suitable lifting accessories, implementing safe working practices, and ensuring these are followed through appropriate supervision and monitoring.”