Company sentenced after worker loses finger in machinery

A cable manufacturing company has been sentenced today for safety breaches after a worker suffered the loss of his left little finger.

Sunderland Magistrates’ Court heard that on the 24 of September 2015 during the cable making process the injured worker at AEI Cables Limited put his left hand into an unguarded machine. His hand came into contact with dangerous parts of machinery. He lost one finger and received serious lacerations to the other fingers on his left hand.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found there was no guarding in place to prevent access to the dangerous part of the machinery.

AEI Cables Limited of Birtley, Chester-Le-Street County Durham pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations and was fined £40,000. Costs were also awarded.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Victoria Crofton commented: “This injury was easily prevented and the risk should have been identified.

“Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) 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. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk