Newsprint firms fined after worker's leg amputated

Date:

24 September 2010

Release No:

COI/LDN/1009

Two newsprint firms have been prosecuted after a worker had to have his leg amputated when it became trapped in machinery.

The worker suffered serious injuries to his leg when he was pulled into a conveyor at the premises in Tower Hamlets on 20 August 2007.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted West Ferry Printers Ltd and Meta Management Services Ltd, following the incident.

City of London Magistrates' court heard that Mr Emery was removing newspaper reels from the end of a conveyor using a forklift truck. He climbed onto the conveyor to move a reel that was stuck and got his leg caught between the roller and the moving, slatted metal conveyor. His left leg was drawn in and his injuries were so severe that his leg had to be amputated.

West Ferry Printers Ltd of 235 West Ferry Rd in Tower Hamlets pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £17,500 and ordered to pay costs of £4, 303.

Meta Management Services Ltd [trading as Aktrion Media Support Services] of Pemberton House, Stafford Court, Stafford Park in Telford pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the same act. It was fined £17,500 and ordered to pay costs of £4, 303.

HSE Inspector Chris Tilley said:

"Both of the defendants were aware of the risks from dangerous machinery and had been advised to carry out an assessment of the risks from the conveyor prior to the incident. If they had done so the incident may have been prevented.

"Although it was unsafe to do so, employees of Aktrion Media Services, regularly accessed the conveyor to remove blockages. Both Aktrion Media Services and West Ferry Printers Ltd should have taken action to prevent this dangerous practice and considered a safer means of carrying out this activity.

"Many incidents could be avoided if employers and contractors identified safe ways of tackling a job, ensured that machinery was safe to use and contractors were properly supervised whilst on customers' sites.

"In this instance, the installation of an inclined 'lift out' roller would have eliminated the risk from the trapping of limbs in the machinery. Indeed, guidelines and information on the elimination of trapping points and the guarding of machinery are readily available to help employers take the right action."

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. For more information about the work of HSE, visit www.hse.gov.uk
2. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act states: It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all his employees.
3. Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act states: 'It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.
4. West Ferry Printers Ltd is based at 235 West Ferry Rd, London, E14 8NX.
5. Meta Management Services Ltd trading as Aktrion Media Support Services also operates out of 235 West Ferry Road, London, E14 8NX. The head office is at: Pemberton House, Stafford Court, Stafford Park 1, Telford, Shropshire, TF3 3BD

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Issued on behalf of HSE by COI News & PR (London and South East)