Firm fined after worker loses fingers

Categories: General Health and Safety |


Firm fined after worker loses fingers A company in Telford has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after one of its workers lost three fingers while working with machinery.

The female employee had her hand trapped in the incident, causing her to suffer serious injuries.

Telford Magistrates' Court heard how the employee was assiting a fellow worker to remove aluminium foil from a 130-tonne power press, which had become jammed.

Her colleague had opened the protective guards which stop the machine automatically, but had not switched off the pneumatic energy.

Part of the machine snapped upwards, amputating the worker's index finger, middle finger and the tip of her ring finger on her right hand.

HSE inspector Katharine Walker commented: "While the machine had some protective guards and safety mechanisms in place, it seems they were not adequate to prevent danger to operatives during processes such as clearing blockages.

"This was an incident waiting to happen."

The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £5,677 costs.

To reduce the risk of accidents involving heavy machinery, Britons are urged to use appropriate workwear.ADNFCR-1200-ID-19899060-ADNFCR

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