Precision Colour Printing fined £28,547 for two accidents where risk assessments were inadequate

Precision Colour Printing was fined £28,547 (inc.costs) for safety breaches after two employees were injured in separate incidents involving a printing press and a palletising machine.

The circumstances were:

• The risk assessments in place were not suitable and sufficient
• They did not consider the risks of clearing blockages or dealing with misaligned paper logs.
• As a consequence, employees had not been provided with safe systems of work, sufficient information, instruction or training for such tasks.
• On 17 October 2018, an employee sustained a de-gloving injury when his hand was dragged into the rollers of a printing press, as he cleared a blockage.
• On 18 January 2019, another employee was dealing with a misaligned paper log on a palletiser machine. 
• The clamping arm descended and crushed his hand, breaking his wrist.

The HSE inspector said:
“These incidents could so easily have been avoided by simply identifying and implementing appropriate 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.”

Goodwin Castings fined £138,000 after employee was burnt when molten slag was poured into a wet container outside

Goodwin Steel Castings Ltd., was fined £138,226 (inc.costs) for safety breaches after an employee suffered life-changing burns following an eruption of molten slag during a slag tipping procedure.

The circumstances were:

• The management of the slag containers was inadequate. 
• They were regularly stored incorrectly outside with the open face up, allowing water ingress.
• The measures in place to inspect and ensure they were free from water contamination before use were also not adequate.
• On 21 February 2020, slag was being poured into a container which was incorrectly stored outside during a period of stormy weather. 
• Water had accumulated in the container, though it was not visible to the naked eye. 
• When the molten slag was poured into the container, it reacted with the water causing a violent eruption.
• The employee, pouring the slag sustained burns to a third of his body including his face, neck, stomach, arms, legs and feet, which required multiple skin grafts.

The HSE inspector said:
“This injury could easily have been prevented – the risk should have been identified and controls implemented. Relevant industry sectors are reminded of the need to ensure that all material and equipment likely to make contact with molten material is free from water contamination as far as they possibly can.”

Lanstar fined £143,664 after forklift truck driver was killed when his truck overturned

Hazardous waste treatment company Lanstar Ltd., was fined £143,664 (inc.costs) after an employee died when a forklift truck he was driving overturned and crushed him.

The circumstances were:

• Lanstar failed to ensure its forklift trucks were being operated safely.
• They had not adequately considered the risks of forklift trucks overturning 
• They did not ensure that seatbelts were being worn by drivers as necessary – despite it being company policy to do so. 
• A forklift truck overturned, killing the driver.

The potential for forklift trucks to overturn is well known within industry, as is the use of seatbelts to reduce the chance of injury in the event of an overturn.

The HSE inspector said:
“This incident could so easily have been avoided if the driver had been wearing a seat belt as per company policy. However, because the company did not fully appreciate the risk of an overturn, management failed to instruct and supervise their drivers properly. This resulted in seatbelts not routinely being worn by forklift truck drivers on site. HSE hope that this case helps to communicate important messages for employers to properly assess risks and put in place appropriate controls.”

Corespec Limited fined £122,989 after forklift truck hits lorry driver

Cardboard manufacturer Corespec Limited was fined £122,989 (inc.costs) after a visiting lorry driver suffered life changing injuries when he was struck by a forklift truck (FLT).

The circumstances were:

• Corespec Limited failed to organise the delivery yard in such a way that pedestrians and vehicles could work in a safe manner. 
• There was a lack of suitable segregation between pedestrians and vehicles.
• On 27 August 2019, a lorry driver was assisting in the loading of pallets of cardboard tubes onto his vehicle.
• In the course of loading the second pallet, the FLT being used to lift the pallets reversed and struck the driver, causing crush injuries to his right leg.

The HSE inspector said:

“This injury was easily preventable. Planning for transport safety and implementing safe working practices should avoid such incidents. Workplace transport is a significant hazard, and the risks must be recognised and managed. There are simple and effective measures employers can take to help keep everyone safe. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required safety standards.”

Ibstock Brick Ltd, fined £534,548 after worker's gloved hand was caught in lathe and severed

Ibstock Brick Ltd, was fined £534,548 (inc.costs) for safety breaches after a worker’s hand amputated following being entangled around the rotating shaft on a lathe.

The circumstances were:

• On 28 February 2020, a maintenance worker was polishing a metal shaft as it rotated in a manual lathe.
• The risk assessment in place was not suitable and sufficient.
• It did not assess the use of gloves or the use of emery cloth on a rotating workpiece.
• There was inadequate training, instructions and supervision.
• There was no system of work. 
• The worker was wearing gloves as he used hand-held emery cloth on the rotating shaft.
• The emery cloth became entangled around the rotating shaft 
• It dragged his hand into the lathe resulting in his hand being severed in the machine.
• He subsequently underwent surgical amputation below the elbow.

The HSE inspector said:
“Those in control of work have a responsibility to assess risk and devise safe methods of working in which their employees should then be instructed and trained. If Ibstock Brick Ltd had, had effective managerial arrangements in place for the task undertaken and ensured their employees were following a safe system of work, based upon risk assessment, safe systems of work, supervision, information, instruction and training, then the life changing injuries sustained by this worker could have been prevented. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards”.

Truro Sawmills was fined £45,594 after employee severs finger on saw

Truro Sawmills was fined £45,594 (inc. costs) after a worker severed his finger when his hand came into contact with the moving parts of a machine.

The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred on a cross-cut saw. 
• The company failed to ensure that access to a cross-cut saw’s dangerous moving parts was prevented by the use of a guard, 
• They also failed to deliver adequate training to their employees.
• On 20 March 2018, an employee of Truro Sawmills was examining the moving parts at the rear of a saw to check why it had been cutting inaccurately. 
• The saw remained in operation while he did so, 
• His glove became caught in the moving parts causing him to sever his index finger on his left hand.

The HSE inspector said:
“This injury was easily preventable. Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery. Those in control have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers.”

Montracon Limited fined £184,703 after employee falls from stepladder which was not in good condition.

Montracon Limited was fined £184,703 (inc. costs) for safety breaches after a worker suffered head injuries after falling from a stepladder.

The circumstances were:

• Montracon had no ladder inspection regime in place.
• An employee was cleaning the cant rail of a curtain side trailer that had just been manufactured..
• He was using a stepladder which was not in good working order.
• Whilst using the stepladder positioned on top of the trailer to reach the work the employee pulled the steps further down the trailer to clean the next section. 
• As he climbed up the steps they started to wobble 
• This caused him to fall out of the trailer onto the floor, landing on his head.

The HSE inspector commented:
“Equipment used to access work at height should be routinely inspected and checked to make sure it is in good condition and safe to use. This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out a proper risk assessment, implementing appropriate control measures and adopting 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.”

Securafence Ltd., fined £96,017 for repeated breaches of health and safety law

Securafence Ltd., who manufacture perimeter protection products was fined £96,017 (inc.costs) after repeated breaches of health and safety law over a period of eighteen months, including contravention of an Improvement Notice.

The circumstances were:

• Between 29 August 2018 and 24 January 2020, despite several interventions by HSE, Securafence Ltd failed to effectively manage health and safety.
• During this time, ten Enforcement Notices were served on them.
• The company had no formal system to ensure that health and safety controls were in place.
• Management lacked health and safety competence and knowledge.
• As a result, employees were exposed to risks to their health and safety.
• This included exposure to hazardous substances from welding fumes.
• It also included exposure to paint spray from a wet spray booth – which remained in use despite the company informing HSE that it had been taken out of service. 
• Another health and safety risk cited was the risk of injury through access to dangerous parts of machinery as a result of missing/inadequate guarding.

The HSE inspector commented:
“Those in control of work have a responsibility to identify risk and devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take further appropriate enforcement action against those that continue to fall below the required standards or who fail to ensure sustained compliance.”

Troy Foods (Salads) Ltd., fined £93,769 after employee's finger was severed in a mixer

Food manufacturing company Troy Foods (Salads) Ltd., was fined £93,769 (inc. costs) after a hygiene operative suffered a serious injury when his hand came into contact with a mixer.

The circumstances were:

• Troy Foods (Salads) failed to adequately maintain guarding on a paddle mixer.
• They were also deficient in their training and supervision.
• As a result, an employee tasked with cleaning the mixer door mechanism lacked the necessary training.
• His hand came into contact with the mixer and severed the index finger of his left hand.

The HSE inspector said:
“Better compliance, supervision and training are essential to reinforce safe systems of work. This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply implementing the correct control measures and safe working practices.”

Company director imprisoned for ignoring prohibition notices

Tahir Karim, a director of a former car salvage company was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for failing to comply with HSE enforcement notices served to protect the health and safety of workers in his workplace and visitors to the site.

The circumstances were:

• Between 2018 and 2021, Mr Karim was in control of activities and persons working at the site known as Long Life Spares.
• Four enforcement notices had been served in relation to structural safety and the use of unsafe forklift truck vehicles.
• Mr Karim had failed to comply with all of the prohibition notices served. 
• However, he was aware of the risks and directed workers to act in a way that contravened the prohibitions and risked their own safety

The HSE inspector said
“We do not tolerate disregard for health and safety and consider the non-compliance of HSE Enforcement Notices as a serious offence.”

Marple Polymers Processors Limited fined £27,269 after conveyor was started whilst it was being cleaned

Rubber processing company Marple Polymers Processors Limited was fined £27,269 (inc.costs) after a worker’s arm was trapped in machinery.

The circumstances were: 

• The company’s system of work on this machine relied too heavily on effective communication between employees who were working on the machine in a dark and noisy environment.
• On 4 January 2018, an employee  was cleaning a stationary conveyor belt on a Banbury mixing machine.  
• The machine had not been isolated.
• Unaware cleaning was taking place, another employee started the conveyor belt system. 
• The original employee’s left arm became trapped between the conveyor belt and the tension idler causing serious injuries to their arm and hand.

The HSE inspector said:
“This injury could have easily been prevented had a robust safe system of work been in place which included, for example, the isolation of power to the machine whilst cleaning was carried out.  Employers should properly assess the hazards associated with the operation of machinery and put in place effective control measures which employees understand and follow when operating, maintaining and cleaning machinery”.

Harbro Limited fined £12,000 after finger amputation due to inadequate guarding

 Harbro Limited was fined £12,000 after an employee’s hand became entangled in a ‘Superbruiser’ mixing machine.

The circumstances were:

• Harbro Limited had failed to provide fixed or moveable guarding on the inspection hatch of the Superbruiser machine.
• On 2 November 2018 put his right arm through the inspection hatch to feel along the edge of the rotating roller for embedded metal.
• The glove came off his hand.
• His hand was caught between two rollers. 
• He employee sustained crush injuries to his second, third and fourth fingers. 
• Consequently, his middle finger was partially amputated and he was unable to work for approximately two and a half months.

The HSE inspector said:
“This injury was easily preventable and the risk should have been identified. Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery. The risks of undertaking such work are well known in the industry and it is disappointing that a safe system of work was not followed in this case.”

Omega PLC fined £56,000 after finger amputation because of poorly guarded machine

Kitchen manufacturing company Omega PLC was fined £56,000 (inc.costs) after a worker severely injured their finger in unguarded machinery.

The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred on an edge-banding machine.
• The machine was inadequately guarded at the front. 
• Employees would climb onto the machine bed from the unguarded front and were able to access the area of danger when carrying out activities such as routine maintenance and to clear blockages
• On 8 May 2018, the worker was processing wood panels.
• A panel became stuck in the process. 
• When the worker accessed the inner part of the machine to clear the blockage, his hand entered the milling block area.
• This caused a severe laceration to the middle finger on the left hand resulting in amputation.

The HSE inspector said:
“Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery. This incident could so easily have been avoided by implementing correct control measures and ensuring that safe working practices were followed.”

Lantern Engineering fined £22,500 for lack of control of metalworking fluid

Lantern Engineering Ltd was fined £22,500 (inc. costs) after workers were exposed to metal working fluid (MWF). 

The circumstances were:

• MWF is hazardous to health, and exposure can cause health conditions including irritation of the skin/dermatitis, occupational asthma, bronchitis and irritation of the upper respiratory tract.
• In February 2016 the HSE visited Lantern.
• A water mixed MWF was in use in the majority of machines including saws, machine centres and milling machines. 
• None of these machines had local exhaust ventilation (LEV) and some door seals were observed to be in poor condition.  
• The MWF sumps to some machines were in visibly poor condition, with fines, swarf and/or tramp oil being present.
• As a result enforcement was taken requiring the company to provide health surveillance and manage MWF. 
• In September 2016 an employee was diagnosed with occupational asthma. 
• Further enforcement was taken in December 2016 with an Improvement Notice issued to develop a system for managing MWF.

The HSE inspector commented:
“The company’s failure to manage MWF exposed employees to risk. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards”.

Fire Protection Group and Chivas Brothers Limited each fined £50,000 after inspector was crushed by insufficiently isolated machine

Fire Protection Group and Chivas Brothers Limited were each fined £50,000 after an alarm inspector was crushed when machinery started during his activity.

The circumstances were:

• On 22 February 2017, an employee of Fire Protection Group (FPG) was working at Chivas Brothers Limited (CBL) undertaking a visual inspection of fire suppression systems at CBL’s bottling plant.
• FPG and CBL had duties to ensure that there was an appropriate exchange of important health and safety information in advance of, and during, the work activity. 
• They failed to ensure that all the systems on the Kardex Remstar Shuttle XP500 machine were isolated before removing the covers.
• Only part of the machine was isolated from power sources.
• Side panels that act as fixed guards preventing access to dangerous moving parts inside of the machines were removed so that the FPG employee could gain access inside to carry out the inspections.
• The FPG employee was crushed and trapped when the extractor device of the machine was activated. 
• He sustained crushing injuries to his right side.

The HSE inspector said:
“This injury was easily preventable. The risk should have been identified. Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures, such as permits to work when machinery is safely isolated, to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery.”

Iver Recycling (UK) Limited fined £207,125 for widespread poor management of health and safety risks

Iver Recycling (UK) Limited was fined £207,125 (inc.costs) after HSE inspectors discovered widespread poor management of health and safety risks at their site in West Drayton, London.

The circumstances were:

• On 21 March 2019, inspectors attended Iver Recycling to carry out a routine inspection.
• They discovered widespread risk to employees and poor health and safety management of the site.
• HSE revisited the site on 1 April 2019 with electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and civil engineering specialists to assess the site. 
• In total, HSE issued nine Prohibition Notices and seven Improvement Notices. 
• Conditions were so bad that an investigation was conducted to help understand the underlying causes of the conditions seen. 
• The investigation concluded that a lack of competent advice, risk assessment and poor management had led to deterioration of conditions on site, despite previous enforcement being issued by HSE.
• Iver Recycling (UK) Limited failed to appear at the hearing on 16 September 2021, and the case was heard in their absence.

The HSE inspector said:
“Companies should be aware that if they fail to operate their businesses in a manner which protects the health and safety of those who work there, HSE will pursue those responsible to the highest possible level. The conditions seen at this site should not occur in 21st-century Britain.”

Solarframe Limited fined £35,346 after worker was crushed by falling material during forklift truck operations

UPVC manufacturer Solarframe Limited was fined £35,346 (inc.costs) after a worker was crushed under falling materials during forklift truck operations.

The circumstances were.

• On 19 July 2017, a forklift truck (FLT) was being used in activities to catalogue and sort UPVC materials that were stored on long metal stillages in the yard.
• Solarframe had failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment.
• Therefore there was no identification of the risk of lifting equipment making contact with other items located nearby.
• There were insufficient measures to segregate pedestrians from moving vehicles at the site.
• The FLT in use was too large for the planned activity. 
• The stillages were stacked on top of one another on top of a wheeled dolly.
• The height of the stillages was too great, which presented a danger of them becoming unbalanced.
• The FLT was being used to pull out the dollies and stacks and lift each individual stillage down so the contents could be inspected and tidied.
• The FLT driver began to restack the completed stillages onto a pile on the dolly, when the tips of the FLT forks protruded beyond the dolly and caught underneath the stillages stacked behind it. 
• The stillages became unbalanced and fell on to a 56-year-old worker who was in the yard looking for materials.
• He sustained a double broken pelvis, a broken and dislocated left arm, broken ribs left and right side, punctured lung, broken scapula, double broken clavicle, double fractured jaw, fractured cheekbone which involved the eye socket, and two trapped vertebrae in the back of his neck. 
• He was kept in an induced coma for three weeks following the incident.

The HSE inspector said:
“The worker’s injuries were life changing and he could have easily been killed. This serious incident could so easily have been avoided if basic safeguards had been put in place. Assessing the risks involved in work activities allows businesses to foresee what might occur.  It is then straightforward to implement simple control measures and safe working practices.”

Sister companies and the machine manufacturer were fined after finger amputation.

Postpack Limited and Damasco UK Limited were each fined £5,152 (inc.costs) and DIG Corrugated Machinery Limited fined £10029 (inc.costs) because of an injury resulting in amputation.

The circumstances were:

• Postpack and Damasco are sister companies.
• DIG Corrugated Machinery had supplied 5 flat bed die cutting machines, all with inadequate guards.
• A worker using one of these machines caught  his hand under the rotating main roller.
• The fingers and thumb of his left hand were crushed, leading to their amputation.
• Postpack and Damasco were fined under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations. .
• DIG Corrugated Machinery Limited were fined under Section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work  Act.

The HSE inspector commented:
“Those supplying machinery have a duty to ensure that it is safe. Purchasers and users of machinery must assess the equipment that they purchase and ensure that it is adequately guarded and that they have appropriate safe systems of work in place. If the flat-bed die cutter had been adequately guarded, then the life changing injuries sustained by the employee could have easily been prevented.”

Director fined for ignoring 4 improvement notices

The director of a woodworking company was fined £8,488 (inc. costs) and given a 12-month community order for failing to comply with Enforcement Notices

The circumstances were:

• Classical Joinery Group Limited (now dissolved) had been served with four improvement notices.
• These related to controlling health risks associated with the use of hazardous substances and controlling fire and explosion risks associated with the spraying of a flammable substance.
• Peter John Gittins was the sole director of the company and, by his consent or connivance, Classical Joinery Group Limited had failed to comply with all of the Improvement Notices served.

The HSE inspector  said
“We do not tolerate disregard for health and safety and consider the non-compliance of HSE Enforcement Notices as a serious offence.  In this case, Mr Gittins chose to flagrantly ignore the support, guidance and warnings from HSE to assist his compliance with the law; in doing so he put people at risk.”

MK Illumination fined £61,000 after forklift truck driver was killed when his forklift truck overturned after striking a beam

Lighting manufacturer MK Illumination (UK) Ltd., was fined £61,240 (inc.costs) after an employee was fatally injured when the forklift truck he was driving struck an overhead steel beam.

The circumstances were:

• The traffic routes on site required forklift trucks to travel under a number of overhead structural beams.
• There was only had a small clearance gap between the mast of the trucks at their lowest setting and the beams. 
• There were no hazard markings to highlight these overhead obstructions.
• On 14 June 2019, an employee was operating a forklift truck to move pallets when the mast of the forklift truck hit a low overhead structural beam.
• This caused the truck to overturn. 
• The employee was trapped underneath the roll cage and received fatal crush injuries.

The HSE inspector said: 
“The company’s system of work was not safe. With the forklift trucks operating within such tight margins, the company simply relied on the assumption it’s employees would always remember to lower the forks to their lowest position whilst travelling underneath the overhead beams. 
MK Illumination (UK) Ltd not only failed to physically mark the overhead beams in a conspicuous way to provide the forklift truck operators with a prominent warning of the limited headroom, but the company also failed to undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the traffic routes. When this was done after the incident, the revised traffic routes avoided the low overhead beams altogether.”

Custom Insulation Ltd fined £20,000 after worker loses hand in an inadequately guarded press

Custom Insulation Ltd ., a manufacturer of thermal and acoustic insulation panels was fined £20,633 (inc.costs).after a worker’s hand was severed in a roller press at their site in Burton-on-Trent.

The circumstances were:

• The guarding roller presses including that involved in the incident was inadequate. 
• There were no checks being carried out to make sure that the guards related interlocks were functioning as designed. 
• The interlock trips were not working.
• On 7 August 2018, a worker’s hand got drawn into a roller press used for cutting out panels.
• The press was fitted with a guard and interlocking trips which, had they been working, would have prevented this incident.

The HSE inspector said:
“This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply identifying control measures and safe working practices and having systems in place to monitor their continued effective operation.  Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Coldconnection Limited fined £14,928 after ignoring improvement notices for non-functional or defeated interlocks

Food manufacturing company Coldconnection Limited was fined £14,928 (inc. costs) after repeated failures to maintain safety devices on its food processing machinery.

The circumstances were:

• On three separate occasions between July 2008 and March 2016, HSE inspectors visiting the premises of Coldconnection Limited found multiple food processing machines that had non-functional or defeated interlock safety devices. 
• Notices were served on each occasion, requiring the company to remedy the defects.
• On a fourth visit in August 2019, the same issues were found again.

The HSE inspector said:
“While HSE would prefer to engage with businesses proactively through alternative enforcement tools, we can and will bring action through the courts where businesses are found to put their employees at unnecessary risk through repeated contraventions of health and safety law.”

Egger fined £910,000 after lorry driver was killed by a shovel loader

 Egger (UK) Limited was fined £910,000 after a self-employed lorry driver was killed making a routine delivery of recycled wood.

The circumstances were:

• There were a high level of vehicle movements in Egger's yard and previous near misses.
• Egger's risk assessments for workplace transport were not suitable or sufficient. 
• This resulted in a failure to identify that pedestrians, including delivery drivers, were at risk of being struck by moving vehicles in the yard.
• Consequently, the company failed to implement appropriate measures to control that risk, including the provision of designated pedestrian walkways.
• On 3 October 2017, the driver of an articulated vehicle was standing on open ground at the rear of his vehicle's trailer.
• He was struck by a wheeled shovel loader operating in the yard.

The HSE inspector said:
“The risks to pedestrians where vehicles are operating is well known. This incident could so easily have been avoided had the company identified the risks and put straightforward control measures and safe working practices in place. Had they done so the delivery driver would still be alive.  Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Lack of an isolation and lock-out system causes death of one worker and serious injuries to another

Waste recycling firm Stonegrave Aggregates Ltd., was fined £248,952 (inc costs) and its director and site manager sentenced after an employee died and a second employee was seriously injured when they became trapped inside machinery.

The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred on a waste processing line.
• This included a trommel, incorporating a large perforated revolving drum, which acts to agitate, rotate and sieve the waste materials.
• The line was not adequately guarded to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery.
• Control systems, including emergency stop controls, were not compliant with relevant standards. 
• Management did not adequately monitor or enforce machinery isolation procedures.
• What guarding was provided to the trommel was being regularly bypassed by staff.
• This included the site manager David Basham.
• On 12 December 2015 the line became blocked at various points including the trommel.
• Two employees, Simon Hogg and Raymond Garret, stopped the trommel and entered the drum to clear the blockage.
• There was no isolation and lock-out procedure in place.
• Two other employees, who were unaware that they were inside the machinery, restarted the production line.
• Mr Hogg and Mr Garrett remained inside the revolving trommel drum for approximately four minutes before the line was stopped and the two men were found inside.
• Simon Hogg died at the scene after sustaining multiple injuries to his head and torso.
•  Raymond Garrett sustained multiple serious injuries to his legs, arms and torso requiring extensive hospital treatment.

Director of Stonegrave Aggregates Limited Bruce Whitley was given a 12-month community order.

Site manager at Stonegrave Aggregates Limited Aycliffe Quarry site David Basham was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

The HSE inspector said:
“These tragic consequences could have been avoided. This case highlights the importance of implementing effective power isolation procedures when interacting with machinery and the need to monitor compliance to make sure these procedures are followed. HSE will not hesitate to prosecute companies or individuals who fail to implement and monitor safe systems of work.”

Saint-Gobain Construction Products UK Limited fined £509,000 after 3 cases of hand arm vibration syndrome

 Saint-Gobain Construction Products UK Limited, a large foundry in Telford, was fined £509,453.(inc.costs) after a number of its workers were diagnosed with hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).

The circumstances were:

• Three employees were diagnosed with HAVS in 2016.
• The employees used tools such as hand grinders, air chisels, spindle grinders, and earlier on in their employment, jackhammers to finish cast iron drainage products.
• One of these had been using vibrating tools at the company since 1989.
• Until 19 December 2017, the vibration risk assessment did not identify each employee’s daily exposure to vibration.
• Also, it did not measure cumulative exposures of using different vibrating tools throughout a shift.
• There was inadequate health surveillance in place.
• Employees were not made aware of HAVS and its symptoms. 
• Despite health surveillance notifying the company of a HAVS diagnosis, the company had failed to take effective action to adjust the affected worker’s job. 
• This meant that staff continued to be exposed to excessive vibration.

The HSE inspector said:
“This was an established multinational company that had the resources to protect its workers from the effects of excessive vibration, but failed to do so over a long period of time. All employers have a duty to provide effective measures to ensure the health of their staff is not seriously or permanently harmed by the work they are asked to do.”

Dreamtouch Mattresses fined £70,000 after employee was drawn into a mattress rolling machine

 

Nottingham mattress manufacturer, Dreamtouch Mattresses Ltd., was fined £70,836 (inc. costs) after an employee of the company suffered multiple injuries after being drawn into an inadequately guarded machine.

The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred on a a NG-06 Semi-Automatic Mattress Rolling Machine (MRM).
• There was nothing to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery.
• There was no documented safe system of work for the use of the MRM
• There was no training for the use of the MRM.
• As a result, the common practice at the site was for employees to use their hands, and or arms when feeding and pressing mattresses on the unguarded rotating winding film reel
• An employee was drawn into the MRM
• He suffered multiple injuries to his arm, shoulder, ribs and neck

The HSE Inspector said:
“This injury was easily preventable, and the risk should have been identified.  Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery.”

Nasmyth Technologies Limited fined £22,500 after a chemical spill including hydrofluoric acid

The fabrication division of Nasmyth Technologies Limited was fined £22,551(inc.costs) after four employees were exposed to hazardous substances that caused significant ill health and time off work as a result.

The circumstances were:

• This involved a chemical which included Hydroflouric Acid. 

NOTE Hydrofluoric acid is far more dangerous than hydrochloric acid which just gives burns. HF is capable of causing death by skin contact. See http://bit.ly/2Q1myEc .

• Nasmyth Technologies failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment
• They had not prepared for an emergency situation.
• Available respiratory protective equipment (RPE) did not have the correct type of filter for protecting against hydrofluoric acid gas.
• No face fit tests had been undertaken to ensure the masks fitted workers’ faces.
• Furthermore, workers were unshaven meaning their beards or stubble prevented an effective seal of the RPE to their faces
• On 9th October, there was  spillage of up to 200L of this chemical. 
• Four workers were involved in the clean-up that took several hours.
• They were provided with inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) including respiratory protective equipment (RPE).
• They had no training on clearing up this kid of spill.
• Some of them suffered ill health following the incident, which included an asthma attack, a severe headache, nausea, sore eyes and throat. 
• One of the workers, whose symptoms persisted, was referred by his doctor to a specialist for treatment.

The HSE inspector said: 

“This incident could have so easily been avoided had the company firstly undertaken a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and then implemented the necessary controls, including emergency arrangements for dealing with a chemical spill and the provision of instruction and supervision to ensure safe working practices are followed. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Profile Patterns fined £24,000 after multiple injuries caused by unsafe forklift truck practice.

Profile Patterns Limited, a carpet sample book manufacturer, was fined £24,435 (inc. costs) after two workers were seriously injured in an incident where a forklift truck crashed into an onsite refuse skip.

The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred during the emptying of bins using a forklift truck.
• Profile Patterns Limited did not take effective measures to ensure the health and safety of employees in relation to the risks arising from the use and operation of forklift trucks. 
• They failed to implement a safe system of work
• They failed to provide adequate instruction and training to employees.
• The method used for tipping bins into the skip placed employees at significant risk
• The method was normal working practice that had taken place over a considerable length of time.
• On 29 July 2019, three workers were emptying waste from plastic bins.
• They were using a forklift truck to raise the bins to a height.
• Then a worker at either side of the truck manually tipped the bins into a skip.
• One of the bins became trapped between the side of the skip and the forks.
• The driver of the forklift truck climbed on top of the skip to free the bin whilst the other two employees remained standing at either side of the forklift truck.
• Another employee was asked to reverse the forklift truck to aid the release of the bin.
• After reversing, the forklift truck then moved forward.
• It crashed into the skip causing the employee on top of the skip to fall.
• One of the workers standing at the side of the truck became impaled by her right arm by the fork. 
• The two workers sustained serious fractures that required hospital treatment.

The HSE inspector said:
“The risk of injury from this unsafe working practice was foreseeable and the incident could so easily have been avoided. Profile Patterns Limited should have put in place a number of safety measures including appropriate segregation of vehicles and pedestrians and a safe system of work for emptying the bins. Those in control of work also have a responsibility to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in order to carry out work safely.”

CNC Speedwell Limited fined £140,909 after employee was caught in a machine whilst wearing gloves.

CNC Speedwell Limited, a supplier of machined components was fined £140,909 (inc.costs) after an employee sustained a severed finger, lacerations and tendon damage whilst operating a stud assembly machine at a factory in Brownhills, West Midlands.

The circumstances were:

• The accident occurred on 28 February 2018 on a stud assembly machine.
• No risk assessment had been carried out.
• There were no guards or two-handed controls.
• There was no safe system of work 
• The operators had not received suitable training.
• The operator was wearing gloves close to a rotating machine.
• Her gloved hand became entangled in the exposed rotating parts the machine. 
• Her index finger and the tendon along her arm were severely damaged.

The HSE inspector  said:
“Horrific, life changing injuries sustained in entanglement incidents can be 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.”

PCR Steel Ltd fined £59,900 after a driver was killed by a load being lifted onto his flatbed trailer

PCR Steel Ltd  was fined £59,900 (inc.costs) after a driver was crushed and killed by a metal balcony being loaded onto his truck.

The circumstances were:

• On 4 April 2019, an employee of South East Galvanizers Limited visited PCR Steel Ltd at their premises to collect a load which included a metal balcony base frame.
• PCR Steel failed to ensure that the lifting operation was properly planned by a competent person, 
• They failed to ensure that it was appropriately supervised, and carried out in a safe manner. 
• There was no lift plan for the manoeuvring of balcony frames that could have considered the load’s security, size and weight. 
• There was no plan for how the load would be set down, nor for how to exclude people from the danger zone.
• The driver was standing on the back of the trailer bed whilst the  balcony base frame was being loaded.
• The load was not secured and the balcony frame weighing approximately 400kg fell and crushed him.

Ken Mills Engineering Ltd., fined £68,494 after worker lost an arm whilst repairing a haylage baler.

Littleborough-based Ken Mills Engineering Ltd., was fined £68,494 (inc. costs) after one of their employees lost an arm whilst repairing a haylage baler on site.

The circumstances were:

• On 9 February 9 2017, the baler was being repaired at a farm near Wakefield.
• Several engineers had been involved over a number of days to repair the baler. 
• This work had not been subject to a risk assessment. 
• Engineers were not provided with effective information, instruction and training for this activity. 
• They were left to devise their own system of work, which consequently was not safe.
• They relied on techniques they were familiar with from the factory.
• These techniques which were not suitable for the site circumstances. 
• As a result, the vertical compaction ram was inadvertently initiated trapping and crushing the worker’s arm.
• The arm was partially severed at the scene; required several operations and following medical complications was amputated from above the elbow.

The HSE inspector  commented:
“It was reasonably practicable for Ken Mills Engineering Ltd to have done more to ensure engineers were working safely. This incident could have easily been prevented if the company had assessed the repair activity; identified site specific hazards and typical custom and practice, provided a safe working procedure and then effective information, instruction and training for that procedure and the repair work that day”.