Firm prosecuted over amputation incident
June 30, 2008
Two companies have been found guilty of breaching health and safety laws after an employee had all of the fingers on his left hand amputated by a hydraulic swaging press.
Rimac Fabrications from Cannock was ordered to pay a total of £7,737 in fines and costs and Edbro Machine Tools incurred financial penalties of £2,745 for contravening workplace safety legislation.
An employee of Rimac lost four fingers as a result of his firm not protecting him from the dangers of moving parts after he put his hand into the swaging press to remove a piece of work, an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered.
It transpired the company failed to carry out a suitable risk assessment and as a result the dangers of operating the machine were not identified.
The HSE's investigating inspector, Andrew Bowker said machine maintenance is essential to ensure workers' safety is maintained.
"Allowing machines to be operated with critical parts not working and without suitable and appropriate guards and safe systems of work is reckless and blatantly ignores the safety of employees," he said.
Holyhead magistrates court fined Rehau £7,500 after two workers suffered injuries to their hands after using machines without suitable safety guards.
Rimac Fabrications from Cannock was ordered to pay a total of £7,737 in fines and costs and Edbro Machine Tools incurred financial penalties of £2,745 for contravening workplace safety legislation.
An employee of Rimac lost four fingers as a result of his firm not protecting him from the dangers of moving parts after he put his hand into the swaging press to remove a piece of work, an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered.
It transpired the company failed to carry out a suitable risk assessment and as a result the dangers of operating the machine were not identified.
The HSE's investigating inspector, Andrew Bowker said machine maintenance is essential to ensure workers' safety is maintained.
"Allowing machines to be operated with critical parts not working and without suitable and appropriate guards and safe systems of work is reckless and blatantly ignores the safety of employees," he said.
Holyhead magistrates court fined Rehau £7,500 after two workers suffered injuries to their hands after using machines without suitable safety guards.
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