Chipboard manufacturer fined £25,000 following serious workplace accidents

Date:

26 February 2009

Release No:

HSE/NE/064/09

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning those responsible for the health and safety of workers not to neglect their duties following two serious incidents at a Hexham-based manufacturer. The incidents led to one man suffering serious crush injuries and another needing to have his leg amputated.

Egger UK, the Hexham-based chipboard manufacturer was today (26 February) fined £25,400 and ordered to pay £11,881 in costs, after it pleaded guilty to six breaches of health and safety legislation. It was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

The first incident took place on 18 May 2007, when a worker was crushed after a set of clamps which formed part of a chipping machine (Pessa machine) fell on top of him. The second incident occurred on 7 August 2007, when a worker became trapped in between a conveyor and processing machine. This caused severe injuries that resulted in his leg having to be amputated below the knee.

HSE Inspector of Heath and Safety Bruno Porter, said: "A worker was clearing a blockage on the Pessa machine, which takes the lengths of trees and logs and chips them as the first part of the chipboard manufacturing process. While clearing the blockage, a set of heavy clamps dropped onto the worker resulting in serious crush injuries.

"Just three months later, another worker became trapped in a different machine, which led to the worker having to have his leg amputated.

"Employers must prevent or control risks to people's health from equipment they use at work. An employer must ensure that appropriate risk assessments have been carried out, and that all work equipment is suitable for use. Any assessment and safe working practice must include safe isolation of all sources of energy, electrical and mechanical."

Notes to editors

1. In relation to the incident on 18 May 2007, Egger UK was charged with contravening the following health and safety regulations:
2. Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, in that it did not carry out a suitable assessment of the risks arising from clearing blockages on the Pessa machine and did not ensure that a piece of work equipment was maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair
3. Regulation 19 of the Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, in that it did not have a means to safely isolate the stored energy in the Pessa machine
4. In relation to the incident on 7 August 2007, Egger UK was charged with contravening the following health and safety regulations:
5. Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, in that it did not carry out a suitable assessment of the risks arising from use of the line;
6. Regulation 4 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, in that it did not comply with the hierarchy of control measures to control risk;
7. Regulation 11 of the Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, in that it failed to guard dangerous parts of the machine; and
8. Regulation 16 of the Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, in that it failed to have stop devices in place that brought the machine to a safe stop.

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