Leamington components firm fined over worker injury

Date:

31 August 2011

Release No:

WM492/11

A multi-national automotive firm has been fined after part of a worker's finger was sliced off on an unguarded machine at a Warwick factory.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Grupo Antolin Leamington Ltd, which makes components for vehicle interiors, following the incident at the company's Welton Road premises on 17 December 2009.

Mr Ajit Kandola, 37, of Leamington Spa, was cleaning debris from the rotating drive wheel of a foam-slicing machine when the moving blade severed half the index finger of his right hand.

Leamington Spa Magistrates' Court heard Mr Kandola, who is right-handed, now has difficulty carrying out a number of everyday tasks and finds writing awkward and painful. He was off work for five months and though he eventually returned to the company, now has a different job.

HSE's investigation found Grupo Antolin Leamington should have taken measures to ensure workers could not touch the blade while it was rotating. An interlocking guard to stop power to the blade as soon as the machine door was opened should have been fitted.

The court also heard the company had failed to give workers proper information or instructions on how to clean the machine safely.

Grupo Antolin Leamington Ltd, of Tachbrook Park Drive, Leamington Spa, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 8(1) and 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The company was fined £5,500 and ordered to pay £2,858 costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Mark Austin said:

"This was an entirely preventable incident that would not have happened if Grupo Antolin Leamington had complied with the law. This employee is now left with permanent severe hand injuries.

"The requirement to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery is long-standing, as is the need to ensure that workers have proper instructions and information when operating machinery.

"This type of factory incident remains far too common and employers have no excuse for failing to deal with such obvious risks to health and safety.

"HSE will continue to prosecute firms for such breaches, both to see justice done for injured workers and to send a clear message to other employers that they must make sure their businesses are safe and healthy places to work."

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce 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. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Regulation 8(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 states: "Every employer shall ensure that all persons who use work equipment have available to them adequate health and safety information and, where appropriate, written instructions pertaining to the use of the work equipment."
3. Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 states: "Every employer shall ensure that effective measures are taken to prevent access to any dangerous part of machinery."

Press enquiries

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

Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News & PR West Midlands