Engineering firm fined £5,000 after worker's finger severed

HSE/NE/287/09 28 July 2009

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has highlighted the importance of managing health and safety risks effectively after a worker suffered a serious injury to his hand at a North East engineering firm.

TC Industries of Europe Limited, of Holborn Viaduct, London, was today (28 July) fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,357 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge after it pleaded guilty to a breach of health and safety legislation at East Langbaurgh Magistrates' Court.

The incident took place at the company's plant at Carlin How, near Saltburn, on 25 May 2008, when a member of staff - Colin Hicks - had a finger cut off and another badly crushed while working with a pick and place transfer unit to stack parts.

Mr Hicks reached up to activate the limit switch with his right hand while resting his left hand on the unguarded carriageway for balance. As a result the drive wheels of the pick and place unit ran over his left hand that was still resting on the carriageway, severing one of his fingers and severely crushing a second.

HSE Inspector Dave Shallow said:

"The injured man was working on an unguarded part of the machine and what makes this case all the more serious is the fact that the company had previously been advised of the need to provide a guard for the machinery.

"However, the company is now actively working with HSE to ensure full compliance with all requirements.

"Employers who operate machinery are required to establish how this work can be undertaken safely. They must also put in place adequate safeguards and safe working practices to ensure employees are not exposed to dangerous parts of machinery."

Notes to editors

In relation to the incident on 25 May 2008, TC Industries of Europe Limited was charged with contravening: Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974, in that they failed to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of their employees, whilst working at the stacker unit of the Moline saw.

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Issued on behalf of HSE by COI News and Pr North East