Steel firm fined after worker severely injures leg

Date:

1 March 2010

Release No:

NE/077/10

A steel firm has been fined £5,000 today after a worker was injured while clearing a jam in the production line at a factory in Skinningrove, East Cleveland.

Corus UK Limited - trading as Corus Special Profiles - based at 30 Millbank, London, was also ordered to pay costs of £5,074 at Teesside Magistrates' Court. The company pleaded guilty of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 and breaching Regulation 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

The court heard how on 24 May 2008, David Harrison, 41 at the time, a team leader at the Skinningrove factory, was working on the mill floor where steel is rolled into long beams. He was attempting to clear a jam in a machine, which requires an operator activating controls above the mill floor.

The operator was unable to see Mr Harrison and so instructions were relayed via a third man using a combination of hand signals and shouting. Mr Harrison was struck by moving machinery, severely injuring his right leg.

After the case, HSE Inspector Bruno Porter, explained:

"This incident could have easily been avoided, but instead has left Mr Harrison with a badly injured leg for which he still needs medical help.

"Our investigations found that relaying instructions through another person was common practice on the mill floor, as radios were not always available and the noise in the factory made them hard to use.

"Despite the fact that clearing jams in machinery was a common operation, there was no record of a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for this activity and no recorded safe system of work in place.

"While Corus was aware of the hazards and had implemented safe operating procedures to deal with some of the risks, it failed to install a full safe isolation system, which had been identified as necessary prior to the incident."

Notes to editors

1. HSE is Britain's national regulator or workplace safety and health. It aims to reduce injuries and illness in the workplace.
2. Interviews are available with Mr Harrison and HSE Inspector Bruno Porter.
3. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974 states: "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 its employees."
4. Regulation 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states that: "Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety risks of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work."

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

Issued on behalf of the HSE by COI News and PR North East