Firm fined after worker lost finger in recycling machinery

Date:

13 September 2012

A worker lost a finger when it was crushed in machinery as safety procedures were ignored at a recycling centre in Wales.

GLJ Recycling Ltd appeared before Caerphilly Magistrates Court in a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive and were fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs for breaching the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.

The court heard that GLJ employee, Rhys Dee, of Treowen, Caerphilly who was 19 years old at the time, was working on a baling machine at Oakdale on 14 April, 2011.

He was helping to crush domestic copper boilers in the machine by standing in front of it to pick up pieces of copper and feed them into the baler to speed-up the process while a colleague operated the machine.

However, industry guidance states that only one person should operate the machine from behind the guard to prevent injury.

HSE Inspector, Dean Baker, speaking after the hearing, said: "This serious accident could have resulted in much more severe injuries for Mr Dee.

"GLJ Recycling Ltd were aware of the guidance but encouraged the use of the machine with two people."

GLJ Recycling Ltd of Fern Close, Penyfan Industrial Estate, Crumlin pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Further information on recycling safety can be found on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/waste/index.htm

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to prevent 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. Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work 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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