Textile company fined after worker's arm crushed in roll of fabric

Date:

21 September 2010

Release No:

HSE-E-30

A fabric manufacturer has been fined after a worker's arm was so badly crushed he had to have metal plates inserted to help support his broken bones.

Agency worker Robert Dunn, 32, of Ringwood, South Bretton, Peterborough, was operating a fabric winding machine on 4 November 2009 when his left arm was drawn into the roll of material and crushed, breaking all three arm bones. He also suffered ripped cartilage in his left knee, caused by the sudden movement.

E-Leather Limited appeared at Peterborough Magistrates' Court today and admitted breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and Regulation 3(1)(b) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

The company, based at the Kingsbridge Centre, Sturrock Way, Peterborough, was fined £13,500 and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found inadequate safety guards on dangerous parts of machinery and no sufficient and suitable risk assessment in place.

HSE Inspector Alison Ashworth said:

“Robert Dunn suffered a terrible injury because of an incident that was entirely avoidable. Proper safety guards play an important role in protecting workers from dangerous moving parts and the company had a responsibility to ensure suitable guarding was in place. Had a suitable and sufficient risk assessment been carried out then this issue would have been highlighted straight away.”

“HSE will continue to prosecute companies that fail to carry out their duty to ensure the health and safety of their employees.”

Notes to editors

1. HSE is Britain's national regulator for workplace safety and health. It aims to reduce injuries and illness in the workplace.
2. Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 states: "Every employer shall ensure that measures are taken... to prevent access to any dangerous part of machinery or to any rotating stock-bar; or to stop the movement of any dangerous part of machinery or rotating stock-bar before any part of a person enters a danger zone.
3. Regulation 3(1)(b) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states: "Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking.
4. HSE advice on safety in the textile industry can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/textiles/index.htm
5. HSE advice on carrying out a risk assessment can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/
6. Further information on the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 can be found on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg291.htm and http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/I22.htm

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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News & PR (East)