Bradford firm in court after worker's hand severed by machine

Date:

7 April 2011

Release No:

YH/59 /11

A metal fabrication firm has been fined after a 22-year-old worker's hand was severed by a machine.

Jamie Raynor's left hand was amputated when the top pressing tool of a hydraulic press brake he was operating came down on his wrist.

Mr Raynor, of Queensbury, Bradford, worked on a casual basis for RDB Fabrication and Engineering Ltd and was asked to come in on a Saturday because the company was busy.

The firm's press brake machine which severed Mr Raynor's hand

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the press brake, used to bend sheet metal, was fitted with an electronic motion guard to stop the machine moving if a part of a person entered the danger zone. However when Mr Raynor reached into the machine to reposition a part, it had failed to operate and stop the movement of the tool.

Halifax Magistrates' Court heard this was the first time he had worked on the machine and had been given less than ten minutes' instruction on its operation.

HSE inspector, Paul Newton, said:

"A young man has had his life changed forever by a terrible, avoidable accident.

"The dangers of working with press brakes are well known in the industry and there have been many instances of workers being seriously injured. That's why these machines are fitted with guards to prevent access to the danger zone. In this case, the company's failure to ensure these guards were effective had tragic consequences.

"Contact with moving machinery is one of the main causes of fatal injuries to workers and the third highest cause of major injuries. I hope this serves as a reminder to employers of the importance of safeguarding their employees."

RDB Fabrication and Engineering Ltd admitted breaching Regulation 11(b) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 by failing to ensure the machine was adequately guarded.

The company, which was based at Queens Road, Halifax at the time of the incident, but now operates from Mill Street, Wibsey, Bradford, was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 costs.

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. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 states: "Every employer shall ensure that measures are taken which are effective (a) to prevent access to any dangerous part of machinery or to any rotating stock-bar; or (b) to stop the movement of any dangerous part of machinery or rotating stock-bar before any part of a person enters a danger zone."

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