Lack of risk assessment costs firm GBP4,000

The health and safety of employees should be a top priority for bosses and steps should be taken to ensure workplace wellbeing, one industry figure has claimed, after a firm was fined £4,000 for not doing so.

Janesville Acoustics from Colne was fined £4,000 at Reedley magistrates' court for four breaches of health and safety regulations concerning two separate incidents.

In July 2006 an employee who was changing a plastic bag on a dust extraction system slipped and his arm became trapped in machinery, leaving him with crush injuries.

The second incident in January 2007 involved a member of staff using his hand to evenly distribute resin in a hopper when a rotating agitator came into contact with his fingers, leaving him with injuries that required surgery.

Speaking after the trial, Sheldon Taylor, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector, said firms are obliged to take steps to protect those who they employ.

"Companies have a responsibility for the health and safety of their employees which includes carrying out proper risk assessments and machines being guarded," he said.

According to the HSE, a risk assessment involves an examination of situations and objects in the workplace which could pose a threat to the wellbeing of staff and taking steps to reduce the chances of injury.