Bradford worker injured after just weeks in job

Date:

16 May 2012

Release No:

Y&H/90/12

A Bradford textile firm has been sentenced for safety failures after a worker was left with a long-term hand injury after only a month in the job.

The 30 year-old employee joined Whitaker Fibres Ltd, trading as Howarth Scouring Company, in March 2011 as a wool sorter, a job that did not involve any working with machinery.

The following month, on 23 April, he was told to clean debris from the trays of a machine that untangles woollen fibres - despite the fact he had no training or experience for handling machines at the factory.

As he attempted to carry out the task, his hand was dragged into the unguarded machine and became stuck. His glove was shredded and he started to lose feeling in his hand, before eventually managing to pull it free.

The worker's hand was badly cut leaving him with scarring from the tip of his right index finger to mid-forearm; tendon, nerve and vein damage resulting in the loss of movement to two fingers; and loss of webbing between two fingers.

Bradford Magistrates' Court heard today (16 May) the incident was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and a prosecution brought against Whitaker Fibres Ltd for a serious breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The court was told the machine that caused the injury was left running whilst the worker attempted to empty the trays, which were difficult to move because they were jammed by debris.

HSE found the employee had no experience or training in the use of machinery and had been given none by the company. Also, there had been no measures to protect workers against access to dangerous moving parts and no system of safe work to follow when cleaning machinery.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Andrea Jones said:

"This very inexperienced worker suffered serious injuries to one hand and was fortunate that his whole arm was not dragged into this machine.

"The risks associated with contact with moving parts, particularly during cleaning, are well known in industry, as are the availability of simple methods of safeguarding workers from those risks. Yet Whitaker Fibres chose to ignore both.

"Had suitable isolation procedures been followed and supervised by the management, this incident would not have happened. It is the responsibility of all employers to ensure their machinery is safe to use."

Whitaker Fibres Ltd of Cashmere Works, Birksland Street, Bradford, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £2,897.35 in costs.

The court had been told that the company had a previous conviction at Bradford Magistrates' Court in February 2008 for a breach of the same Act following an incident to an employee while cleaning machinery.

There were five deaths and more than 550 major injuries in the manufacturing sector in Yorkshire & the Humber according to the latest 2010/11 HSE statistics. A further 1,900 less severe injuries were also recorded. Eight UK workers were killed as a result of incidents involving contact with moving machinery, and more than 1,000 others were seriously injured.

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. 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 reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees."

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