Two HSE prosecutions following accidents with machinery

The HSE has reported two separate prosecutions for breaches of the Provision of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

Allevard Springs Ltd was prosecuted for failing to adequately prevent the risk of injury to employees using machinery after Steven Rowe was seriously injured while operating a machine at the firm's Clydach Vale premises.

And in a separate case, international fencing manufacturer Betafence Ltd was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £3,762 costs for a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations after a worker suffered severe injuries to his left arm at a production plant in Sheffield. The employee suffered a dislocated elbow, compound fractures to his lower arm, and had parts of his skin ripped off as he tried to re-thread some wire through a machine block.

In the Allevard Springs case, after the worker's arm was impaled by two steel bars the HSE investigation found that the firm had not taken measures to ensure the exposure of a person to the risk of steel bars being ejected was adequately controlled, and that no measures were in place to prevent access to a machine while it was running.

The company pleaded guilty to contravening Regulation 12(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9,786.60.

HSE Inspector, Hugh Emment, said:

"Serious incidents involving machinery which is not, or inadequately, guarded are unfortunately still a common event.

"Incidents often result in the injured person having to deal with significant, long-term negative consequences for themselves and their families.

"Employers should ensure that machinery is suitably and sufficiently assessed. This includes taking into account relevant guidance and standards, so that all necessary guarding is in place and maintained in a good condition."

In the case of Betafence Ltd, magistrates heard that the company, which traded as Bekaert Fencing Ltd and Tinsley Wire Ltd, had also been the subject of previous enforcement notices by HSE regarding guarding of machines in 2003 and 2005 plus several letters of advice about machinery guarding.

Inspector, Jill Thompson, said:

"The dangers of moving machinery are well known in industry and Betafence's management of the risks posed to their workforce in this area has fallen below what is acceptable.

"Prevention of access to moving parts of machinery is a clear duty upon employers and includes making sure that safety features of machines are maintained effectively."