Amberset fined after employee was drawn into unguarded machine

Manufacturer of paper and paperboard Amberset Limited was been fined £4,197 (inc.costs) after an employee was injured when they were drawn into a large paper re-winding machine.

The circumstances were:

• The paper rewinder was not suitably guarded.
• This had been the case since August 1998. 
• The rewinder allowed access to dangerous parts of machinery at various places including the front of the rewinder where the employee was drawn by their hand between two exposed rollers.
• On 19 July 2021 an employee sustained injuries of three broken bones in their shoulder, bruising of the elbow and wrist and superficial damage to their head. 
• The man then underwent surgery following the incident, where metal plates and pins were fitted in his shoulder and arm.

The HSE inspector said:
“Employers should regularly review the safety measures on their plant and equipment to ensure that access to dangerous parts is prevented. The guidance on safe operation of paper rewinders is well established as is the law and guidance on guarding dangerous parts of machinery.
Employees should be prevented from getting into a position where they can come into contact with dangerous parts of machinery.
It is fortunate that the quick action of the employee’s colleagues in stopping the machine, ensured that they were not pulled further into the machine as their injuries could have been much worse if not fatal.”