A spring manufacturing company has been fined after an employee had two fingers of his right hand severed whilst attempting to lubricate a bandsaw.

Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how on 2 October 2019, a labourer employed by Hanson Springs Ltd in Rochdale was assisting in the cutting back department to cut sections of steel spring using a vertical bandsaw when the blade began to smoke and squeal. The worker decided to replace the blade, as on inspection it appeared heavily worn. He attempted to lubricate the new blade, by pressing a cardboard tube of wax onto the exposed section of it whilst it ran. The tube was drawn in, in turn drawing in the worker’s hand, severing the middle two fingers at the first and second knuckle respectively.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that although the worker had received training from the supervisor in using the machine, it was of poor quality, no formal competency assessment had been carried out, nor was he certain that he could use the machine unsupervised. Furthermore, despite lubrication of the blades in this manner being standard practice within the company, it was unnecessary as the machine was self-lubricating. The worker had been shown how to do this during training in order to minimise the time needed for the blade to become greased using the inbuilt lubrication system and therefore operational. Operational management was not aware of this dangerous practice and therefore no safe method of lubricating the blades had been provided.

Hanson Springs Ltd of Hanson Place, Gorrells Way, Rochdale, Lancashire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,394.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Peter Lennon said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided.
“Employers should ensure they carry out an assessment of the risks and put in safe system of works for the operation of all machinery.

“Employers should also ensure that adequate supervision, instruction and training is provided to workers.”

Notes to Editors:
1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator 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. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/machinery/safety.htm
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

Infiniti Roofing and Construction Ltd has been sentenced for breaches of safety regulations after an employee fell through a gap in scaffolding and sustained multiple injuries whilst working on a building at Havers Hill, Eastfield, Scarborough.

York Magistrates’ Court heard that, on 15 November 2017, a 20-year-old labourer who was working on the roof, fell three metres through a gap in the scaffolding onto an office roof below causing injuries to his left wrist and hand.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that when the labourer was moving insulation panels on the roof, he stumbled and fell through the gap. Although Infiniti Roofing and Construction Ltd had taken measures to reduce the risk of a fall the scaffolding did not fully extend along the roof in the area where the insulation panels were stacked and stored. The fall caused the labourer to sustain a dislocation to his left wrist and a broken bone in his hand which  has required him to undergo several operations.

Infiniti Roofing and Construction Ltd of Cayton Low Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company has been fined £22,667 and ordered to pay £7,228 in costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Jayne Towey commented: “The accident could have been prevented if edge protection, constructed and installed to industry standards, was in place where there was a risk of a fall from height.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator 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^[1]
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: legislation.gov.uk/ ^[2]
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk^[3]
4. Please see the link below to the page on HSE’s website that is the best guide to doing it the right way:

https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-mavhinery/puwer.htm

A construction company has been fined for failure to maintain the braking system of an articulated dumper truck.

Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court heard how Nelson Plant Hire failed to ensure the dumper truck was subject to a regular maintenance regime resulting in a worker being seriously injured.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident on  11 May 2018 at Whitehouse Field, Andover, found that during construction operations, the operator of a large Volvo articulated dumper truck was working on a site at the top of a steep slope adjacent to a public road. The operator was reversing the truck to carry out a tipping operation, but the brakes did not function. Consequently, he lost control of the vehicle which careered backwards across a busy A-road and tipped on to its side. The operator’s injuries included multiple fractured ribs and a punctured lung.

The HSE investigation determined that the dumper truck had not been subject to a maintenance regime in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the brakes did not function correctly.

Nelson Plant Hire Ltd of Homestead Farm, Weyhill Road, Penton Corner, Andover, Hants, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER98) for failing to maintain the plant and was fined £10,000- and ordered to pay costs of £8,826.70

After the hearing, HSE inspector Dominic Goacher commented: “It is essential that construction plant is correctly maintained and all plant operators need to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations in respect of maintenance. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Notes to Editors:
1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator 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. www.hse.gov.uk
2. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

A construction company has been fined for failure to maintain the braking system of an articulated dumper truck.

Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court heard how Nelson Plant Hire failed to ensure the dumper truck was subject to a regular maintenance regime resulting in a worker being seriously injured.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident on  11 May 2018 at Whitehouse Field, Andover, found that during construction operations, the operator of a large Volvo articulated dumper truck was working on a site at the top of a steep slope adjacent to a public road. The operator was reversing the truck to carry out a tipping operation, but the brakes did not function. Consequently, he lost control of the vehicle which careered backwards across a busy A-road and tipped on to its side. The operator’s injuries included multiple fractured ribs and a punctured lung.

The HSE investigation determined that the dumper truck had not been subject to a maintenance regime in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the brakes did not function correctly.

Nelson Plant Hire Ltd of Homestead Farm, Weyhill Road, Penton Corner, Andover, Hants, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER98) for failing to maintain the plant and was fined £10,000- and ordered to pay costs of £8,826.70

After the hearing, HSE inspector Dominic Goacher commented: “It is essential that construction plant is correctly maintained and all plant operators need to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations in respect of maintenance. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Notes to Editors:
1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator 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. www.hse.gov.uk
2. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

Dr Delphine Bard is a Principal Scientist in HSE’s Science and Research Centre in Buxton. To mark International Women’s Day 2022, Delphine talks about her work in standardisation and why women should get involved. 

“I am an aerosol scientist working for the health and safety executive and have been actively involved in standardisation on a national and international level for more than 15 years. I am a committee member of BSI (British Standard Institute), CEN (European Standardisation committee) and ISO (International Standard Organisation) including BSI NTI/1, CEN TC 352 and ISO TC 229 (Nanotechnologies) and BSI EH2/2 and CEN TC 137 (Assessment of workplace exposure – Particulate Matter).

“I have contributed to and lead the development of standards and in doing so I have participated in numerous national and international meetings. At times it has been challenging, but rewarding. I have learnt soft skills including active listening, influencing, assertiveness and diplomacy, which have helped me in discussions and debates when different viewpoints are expressed, but a consensus has to be reached. These soft skills have also helped me to progress in my career within my organisation.

“Most of all, I believe I have made a positive impact on the development of standards, with my aim to make workplaces safer and healthier and at the same time encouraging innovation and industry growth. I have gained from and shared scientific knowledge with a wide range of professionals and experts of diverse background and culture. I have networked and this has led to the development of scientific collaborations with industry, academia and other scientific organisations.

“My involvement in standardisation has made me a better scientist. The recent development of online meeting is making it easier for women like me, who have childcare responsibilities, to participate. Standards are important and diversity including a good representation from women makes better standards. So, let’s get involved.”