Global brick making firm fined after worker crushed

Date:

30 April 2012

Release No:

HSE/M/23/12

A multinational brick making company has been fined after a worker suffered serious injuries when he was crushed on a conveyor belt at its Worcestershire factory.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Wienerberger Ltd following the incident on 19 October 2009 at the company's site at Hartlebury, near Kidderminster.

Kidderminster Magistrates' Court heard how the 48-year-old man, who does not want to be named, was rectifying a fault which had stopped a brick packaging line from moving.

He entered the safety zone around the line, which was protected by a perimeter fence with interlocked access gates, and climbed up onto the conveyor belt to fix the problem. However, the line suddenly restarted, activating a pallet lifter which came down and crushed him.

He suffered a serious puncture wound to his back, cracked several ribs and sustained extensive bruising to his face and leg. He was off work for six weeks.

HSE's investigation found an interlock on one of the gates, which should have isolated the machinery, had been disconnected some days before the incident to allow a printer within the perimeter fence to be serviced.

The company had also failed to carry out an adequate assessment of the risks arising from working on the printer within the perimeter security fence and the controls required.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Chris Gregory said:

"A man suffered potentially life-changing injuries following an incident that should never have happened.

"Deliberately bypassed interlocking devices are a common cause of injuries in the manufacturing sector.

"Free guidance on guarding standards for machinery has been available from HSE for many years and it is unacceptable to see such basic failings, particularly from a large company."

Wienerberger Ltd, of Brooks Drive, Cheadle Royal Business Park, Cheadle, Cheshire, pleaded guilty today to breaching Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and Regulation 11(3) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The company was fined a total of £20,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £11,611.

Guidance on guarding standards for machinery is available from HSE at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l22.htm

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 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states: "Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of-
   1. the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work; and
   2. the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking."
3. Regulation 11(3) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 states: "All guards and protection devices provided under sub-paragraphs (a) or (b) of paragraph (2) shall-
   1. be suitable for the purpose for which they are provided;
   2. be of good construction, sound material and adequate strength;
   3. be maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and good repair;
   4. not give rise to any increased risk to health or safety;
   5. not be easily bypassed or disabled;
   6. be situated at sufficient distance from the danger zone;
   7. not unduly restrict the view of the operating cycle of the machinery, where such a view is necessary;
   8. be so constructed or adapted that they allow operations necessary to fit or replace parts and for maintenance work, restricting access so that it is allowed only to the area where the work is carried out and, if possible, without having to dismantle the guard or protection device."

Press enquiries

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

Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by the Regional News Network