Companies urged to improve safety after Bury worker loses three fingers

Date:

29 July 2009

Release No:

HSE/NW/018Tetrosyl/09

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned of the danger of untrained staff using machinery after a worker in Bury had three fingers cut off.
Tetrosyl Ltd of Bevis Green Works, Walmersley, Bury, pleaded guilty to two offences under health and safety legislation at Manchester Crown Court, Minshull Street, on Wednesday 29 July. It was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £6,141.

The company, which manufactures car care products including oils and lubricants, was charged under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for not operating a safe site, and not providing suitable training.

The court heard that the incident happened on 8 August 2008 when 21-year-old Robert Karpowicz was using a powder-mixing machine at the factory. Mr Karpowicz had not received training to use the machine, which also had an unguarded open hatch. His right hand was badly injured when he used the hatch to obtain a sample from the machine, while the internal blades were still running.

HSE Inspector Chris Smith said:

"This incident has had a devastating effect on Mr Karpowicz, who has not worked since. He was a keen sportsman but is now unable to use his right hand, and is having to adapt to living with the effects of the injury.

"The incident would have been totally avoidable if the company had followed the correct procedures. The danger of unguarded machinery cannot be highlighted too much.

"It is the employer's duty to ensure risks to safety within the workplace are adequately assessed, and that correct control measures are implemented to avoid injury. This was further aggravated by Mr Karpowicz not having received training to use the machine correctly.

"This case underlines the human tragedy that lies behind the statistics of industrial injuries, and the long term effects that individuals suffer."

Notes to editors

Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 says:

"It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.

Without prejudice to the generality of an employer's duty under the preceding subsection, the matters to which that duty extends include in particular:

• the provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health;
• the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees"

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