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”.