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.”