Plastic tubing manufacturer Metelle UK fined £100,000 after worker was caught in an exposed clamp of a poorly-guarded machine

Emtelle UK Limited, a manufacturer of plastic tubing and blown fibre tubing for telecoms and water piping, was fined £100,000 after an employee suffered serious injuries to his left hand when it came into contact with the exposed clamp of a socket machine.

The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred on a socket machine.
• The risk assessment had not included working with shorter lengths of pipe.
• The guards were inadequate for shorter lengths and it was possible to reach the dangerous parts of the machine which included a clamp.
• On 3 November 2016, an employee working on this machine, placing a pipe into a socket.
• The shorter length of pipe fell out
• He reached to catch the pipe to prevent it being clamped and his left hand came into contact with the exposed clamp causing serious injury.

The HSE inspector said:
“This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”