Manufacturer of agricultural machinery fined after worker has arm amputated after an injury
Superior Machines Ltd has been fined for safety breaches after a 68-year-old worker suffered life-threatening injuries at work.
On 25 January 2019, the worker became entangled on either the rotating workpiece or the chuck of a manual lathe as it rotated. He sustained extensive injuries including a punctured lung, broken neck, fractures to the back, ribs, arm and shoulder blade. He subsequently had his left arm amputated at the shoulder.
An HSE investigation found that machinery standards across the site were poor and many machines were unguarded.
The HSE issued three prohibition and five improvement notices. These concerned machine guarding, welfare and management issues.
Breach
Superior Machines Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974:
- Section 2(1) requires employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees.
Penalty
Superior Machines Ltd was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,618.
Car dealership fined after apprentices receive chemical burns
A Mercedes-Benz dealership in Leicester has been fined after two apprentices were exposed to hazardous substances at work.
On 15 March 2018 two apprentices were working at the dealership, cleaning vehicle ramps in the workshop using a chemical from an unlabelled barrel. Exposure to this chemical caused burns to their hands and arms. The burns resulted in both apprentices being taken to hospital for treatment.
An HSE investigation found that the company failed to ensure that exposure to this hazardous substance was either prevented or adequately controlled.
Breach
Cruickshank Motors Limited (trading as Mercedes-Benz of Northampton) was found guilty of breaching Regulation 7(1) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.
- Regulation 7(1) requires employers to ensure the exposure of employees to substances hazardous to health is either prevented, or if this is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled.
Penalty
Cruickshank Motors Limited (trading as Mercedes-Benz of Northampton) was fined £360,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,622.
Worker exposure to lead dust leads to fine for bell manufacturer
John Taylor Bell Foundry (Loughborough) Ltd has been sentenced for safety breaches after workers were exposed to harmful lead dust.
On 20 March 2019 workers were undertaking the repair and refurbishment of church bells at St Peter’s church in Barton-Upon-Humber. This project involved stripping off rust and old paint from the metal bell frame and fittings. After work had already been underway for some time, the old paint was confirmed to contain lead.
An HSE investigation found that the workers that had been stripping the paint were exposed to harmful lead dust. This was because they had been using power tools that generate excess levels of dust. The company did not apply proper cleaning techniques or personal protective equipment (PPE).
Breach
John Taylor Bell Foundry (Loughborough) Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 5(1), of the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002.
- Regulation 5(1) prohibits employers from undertaking work liable to expose employees to lead unless a suitable and sufficient risk assessment has been undertaken and steps needed to comply with these regulations have been identified and applied.
Penalty
John Taylor Bell Foundry (Loughborough) Ltd was fined £13, 333 and ordered to pay £6,469.90 in costs.
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