Norfolk companies prosecuted after worker crushes hand

Date:

19 January 2012

Release No:

HSE-E-60-12

Two Norfolk companies have been fined after a cleaner's hand was crushed in machinery.

Richard Beane, 34, from Watton in Norfolk was working as a cleaner for SGA House Services Limited which was contracted by Watton Produce Company Limited to work at their Attleborough vegetable packing plant.

Today, Norwich Magistrates' Court heard that on the 8 October 2010, Mr Beane was cleaning the underside of a conveyor belt on a carrot processing line when his left hand became trapped between two conveyor belts and was crushed.

Mr Beane's hand was severely damaged, and required extensive surgery and skin grafts. He was off work for nine months and has been left with only 45% use of his damaged hand.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Watton Produce Company Limited failed to protect the safety of their employees and contracted staff by not preventing access to dangerous parts of machinery. SGA House Services did not provide sufficient and suitable information, instruction, training and supervision to their employees, particularly in relation to the correct cleaning method of the moving belts on the underside of the conveyor.

HSE Inspector Paul Unwin said:

"Mr Beane suffered an awful injury to his left hand which left him unable to use it for months. This was debilitating and traumatic. A simple guard on the conveyor belt as well as basic instruction and training on how to clean the equipment without being put at risk would have protected his hand from being dragged into the machinery. Organisations have a duty to protect their own workforce as well as contracted staff working on their premises.

"HSE will not hesitate to prosecute those who break the law in this way."

Watton Produce Company Limited of Hargham Road, Shropham, Attleborough pleaded guilty to Regulation 11 of the provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations 1988 and were fined £6,000 with costs of £7,402.

SGA House services Limited of Unit 1, Empire building, Trafalgar industrial Estate, Sovereign Way, Downham Market pleaded guilty to Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at work etc. Act 1974 and were fined £2,000 with costs of £2,467.

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 to prevent access to any dangerous part of machinery...; or to stop the movement of any dangerous part of machinery...before any part of a person enters a danger zone."
3. 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."

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