Company fined £12,000 after injuries to three workers

Date:

14 October 2010

Release No:

COISE/1410

A Chichester rubber hose manufacturer has been fined £12,000 after three workers were injured on its premises over two months.

Oldham Seals Limited, of City Gates, Chichester in West Sussex, appeared at Chichester Magistrates Court today (14 October 2010) after pleading guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,151.25.

The court heard that on 6th May 2009, a hose builder was unwinding a fabric bandage that had been wrapped around a hose mounted on a rotating machine part called a lathe, while it was moving. The bandage wound round his left hand pulling it into the machine. It was tight enough to amputate his thumb and partially removing part of his index finger.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation showed that a further two incidents had taken place on this machine prior to this incident. A different worker had his glove entangled in the machine and he was pulled towards the rotating parts. He suffered bruising and cuts to his torso.

A third worker was winding a rope around a hose he was building on a lathe when his leg was caught and he was pulled towards the machine. The rope snapped but he suffered severe lacerations to his left leg.

The investigation highlighted that the incidents were preventable, as had there been suitable guarding round the moving parts then the risk of entanglement would not have been present.

HSE Inspector, Michelle Taylor said:

"These three incidents are terrible and all because the company did not have simple guards to cover the moving parts of the machine and prevent entanglement. Also, the company should have made an assessment of the practical measures which could have controlled the risks. Had they done so, then these dreadful incidents would have been prevented."

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 etc Act 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 his employees."
3. For further information on the duty to manage, visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/managing/index.htm

Press enquiries

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

Issued on behalf of HSE by COI News and PR South East