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.”