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.

Symmetry Medical Sheffield Limited, trading as Tecomet, was sentenced today for safety breaches after a worker suffered serious injuries.

Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard how on 8 August 2016, the worker was helping to move a hardness testing machine when it fell from the pedestrian pallet truck it was being transported on and struck his left hand.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the machine, which was resting on a stand, was lifted with a pedestrian pallet truck by the worker. The worker had not been trained on how to use the truck and the machine stand did not have suitable channels for the forks of the truck. The machine and stand were not secured to the pallet truck and the machine fell and came away from the stand. It toppled towards a wall and struck the workers hand resulting in a full amputated finger and impact damage to a second finger.

Symmetry Medical Sheffield Ltd trading as Tecomet of Beulah Road, Sheffield pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £275,000.00 with £1237.00 costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Anuja Mistry-Raval commented: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by implementing suitable control measures and adopting safe working practices.

“The risks of loads falling from lifting equipment when not properly attached or secured in place are well known.

“Suitable systems of work are fundamental for ensuring workers’ safety.”

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: legislation.gov.uk/ ^[1]
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

A Norwich based construction company has been sentenced today for carrying out unlicensed asbestos cleaning work.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard how the company began a project to refurbish parts of Rose Lane Business Centre in Norwich, including former kitchen and canteen Work started on east side of the ground level in  April 2015 and various phases continued into  November 2015. It was during the later phase when significant exposure to asbestos materials occurred.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the workers had little awareness of asbestos on site and no prior Asbestos Awareness Training.

The investigation revealed that no Demolition and Refurbishment Asbestos Survey had been in place before the project started. However, when one was carried out following HSE intervention, it discovered licensed asbestos debris on the ground level within the area the size of a football pitch. Despite these findings and surveyor’s recommendations, the unlicensed contractor proceeded to clean the debris between 1 October and 6 October 2015, dry sweeping and vacuuming the area.

Y Construction Ltd of The Union Building, 51-59 Rose Lane, Norwich was found guilty of breaching Regulations 8(1), 10(1) and 11(1) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and was fined £250,000 with costs of £6,512.88.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Kasia Urbaniak said: “The dangers associated with asbestos, including licensed asbestos are well known and a wealth of advice and guidance is freely available from the HSE website.

“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. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

A builder from Cornwall has been sentenced after one of his employees sustained serious, life-changing hand injuries whilst operating a handheld circular saw.

Bodmin Magistrates’ Court heard how David Avent, trading as David Avent Building Services, undertook a barn refurbishment in Callington during February 2017. On 7 February, a worker, who had recently turned 17, was using a circular saw to cut wooden flooring sheets when the blade made contact with his hand causing serious, life-changing injuries. The saw blade cut fully through his index finger, three quarters through his middle finger and half way through his ring finger.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found David Avent had no record of any information, instruction and training that he had provided to his employee in the safe use of the circular saw nor had he ensured that safe working practices were followed when cutting the flooring sheet. The investigation also found that circular saw blade had not been properly adjusted for the size of material being cut at the time of the incident and the flooring sheet was not appropriately supported whilst being cut.

David Avent of Callington, Cornwall pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Regulation 3(4) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. He has been fined £1,120 and ordered to pay costs of £8489.48.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Dr Jo-Anne Michael said: “This injury was easily preventable and the risk associated with the task should have been identified.”

“Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from contact with dangerous parts of machinery to ensure that the risks are given careful attention to ensure they are properly controlled.”

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
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

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A quarry operator has been fined after an employee had his hand and arm caught in a conveyor belt.

Lochmaddy Sherriff Court heard how, on 2 November 2016, employees of MacAulay Askernish Limited were undertaking maintenance work on the conveyor belt of a screener unit that was slipping at Askernish Quarry on the Isle of South Uist. One of the workers, Donald Campbell, was leaning through the opening in the conveyor frame when his hand was pulled into the nip point between the drive drum and conveyor belt. His arm quickly became entangled in the mechanism, causing severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the guarding of the screener unit was not adequate. The investigation also found the company failed to have in place a suitable procedure for the isolation of the screener unit and to ensure the unit was maintained in good repair as other guard panels were not in place.

Macaulay Askernish Limited of Hillside Office, Lochboisdale, Isle of South Uist, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(1) of the Quarries Regulations 1999 and has been fined £30,000.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector, Mike Tetley said: “This injury was easily preventable and the risks from this type of equipment are well-known.

“Companies operating belt conveyors must ensure access has been prevented to dangerous parts and that guards are properly maintained. Having a secure isolation procedure in place is also an essential control when undertaking maintenance work.”

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
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