Fine for engineering company following life-changing hand injuries to worker

An engineering company has been fined after an employee’s little finger and ring finger were amputated at the first knuckle.

Birmingham Magistrates’ Court heard that on 29 January 2018 the employee was working at a site on Holford Way in Birmingham when his gloved hand came into contact with a rotating spindle on a Slack and Par horizontal quick tapping machine and became entangled.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Rical Ltd trading as Avon PDC failed to ensure that effective measures were taken to prevent access to the dangerous parts, namely the rotating spindles, of a Slack and Parr horizontal quick tapping machine.

Rical Limited, trading as Avon PDC of Holford Way, Witton, Birmingham pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and has been fined £14,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,383.88.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Karen Sweeney 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.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regular for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. hse.gov.uk

2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at legislation.gov.uk/

3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

4. Further information about health and safety can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg33.htm.