A molten metal company in Somerset has been fined for failing after an explosion which injured a worker.

Taunton Magistrates’ Court heard that on 5 March 2018 an employee of Cronite Castings Ltd was manually loading a 500kg capacity foundry furnace with metal charge. Solid pieces were added to molten metal and some pieces were wet. An explosion occurred resulting in ejection of a quantity of molten metal from the furnace. The employee suffered molten metal burns to their torso and hand.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that procedures for keeping charge dry and checking for wetness before furnace loading were inadequate. The investigation found that a roof leak over the stored charge material had been identified but effective action was not taken. The injured person was not wearing the correct personal protective equipment; this had become custom and practice on the night shift and supervision arrangements had not been effective in ensuring proper use of molten-metal PPE.

Cronite Castings Ltd of Crewkerne, Somerset, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act. The company has been fined £50,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8544.90, plus court surcharge of £170.00.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Dawn Lawrence said, “This injury could have easily been prevented and the risk should have been controlled.”

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

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. 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

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A manufacturer of swimming pool covers has been fined after a worker suffered a degloving injury when his hand got caught between two power driven rollers of an extruder machine.

Brighton Magistrates’ Court heard how on the 21 February 2018, an employee at Plastipack Limited was injured, at the company site in St Leonards-on-Sea, when his hand got caught between two power driven rollers of an extruder machine while performing a manual intervention on the machine.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had, between 1 July 2012 and 21 February 2018, failed to ensure that the in-running nip point between the rollers of the machine was adequately guarded to prevent access.

Plastipack Limited of Wainwright House, Wainwright Close, St Leonards-on-Sea pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £30,000.00 and ordered to pay costs of £5842.30.

Speaking after the case HSE inspector Susie Beckett said ‘’ This injury was easily preventable, 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. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk

1. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/

1. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

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A parcel carrier has been fined after an employee was seriously injured when he was struck by a fork lift truck.

Cannock Magistrates’ Court heard that in the early morning of 2 November 2017, an employee was walking across the depot at Burntwood Business Park, near Cannock, Staffordshire when he was struck by a reversing fork lift truck. The worker was trapped on the ground by the fork lift truck and had to be freed by colleagues using a pallet truck. He suffered serious fractures to his arm and soft tissue injuries to his legs. He was off work for several months.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found there was inadequate segregation of fork lift trucks and pedestrians within the workplace. A risk assessment had been carried out but had not identified the importance of achieving robust segregation in an area where frequent fork lift truck movements took place.

Fedex UK Ltd of Express House, Holly Lane, Atherstone pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and has been fined £533,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10033.39.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Wendy Campbell said: “Those in control of work have a responsibility to provide safe methods of working and a safe working environment. Collisions between vehicles and pedestrians can be avoided if the workplace layout is properly planned, effectively segregated and suitable systems of work are introduced. If physical barriers and a suitable system of work had been in place the injuries sustained by this employee could have been prevented.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. 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

The post Fedex UK Ltd fined after worker seriously injured by reversing fork lift truck appeared first on HSE Media Centre.

A vehicle recovery and repair company has been sentenced after a new worker suffered fatal crush injuries during maintenance work, only hours after he’d started his new job.

Birmingham Magistrates’ Court heard that on 24 November 2014, Albert Road Recovery and Repair Limited employee John Glenn was fatally injured when a rigid vehicle fell suddenly from an inadequate axle support prop at Siskin Parkway East, Middlemarch Business Park, Coventry.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that a cable reel drum jack was used to support the vehicle, which was not an appropriate piece of equipment for the task being undertaken.

Now dissolved, Albert Road Recovery and Repair Limited of Warley Hill Business Park, Brentwood, Essex was found guilty of breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £20,000, the highest amount available to this court.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector John Glynn said: “This incident led to the tragic death of John Glenn and occurred within hours of him starting his new job. It was completely avoidable.

“Not only did the company fail to adequately induct the new starter into their business, it failed to adequately instruct and supervise him on his first day and provided him with completely unsuitable tools and equipment. Had the company considered the risks properly, they would have had safe systems of work and approved vehicle repair equipment in place.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. 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

The post Vehicle repair company fined after death of worker appeared first on HSE Media Centre.

An architectural metalwork company has been fined after an employee suffered a serious hand injury on a pedestal drill.

Nottingham Magistrates’ Court heard that on 21 August 2018, an employee, who was an apprentice, at Viking Engineering (Architectural Metalwork) Ltd, suffered an amputation injury to his right-hand middle finger whilst operating a pedestal drill at the company site in Basford, Nottingham. His gloved right hand became entangled on the rotating spade drill bit of the drilling machine resulting in his injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that employees were required, by the company’s written system of work, to wear gloves when operating the drill. It had become custom and practice to leave the drill running while repositioning workpieces, which is when the incident occurred.

Viking engineering (Architectural Metalwork) Ltd of Park Lane, Basford, Nottingham, were found guilty of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined, in its absence, £78,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,914.48 with a victim surcharge charge of £170.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Mr Amandip Dhanda said: “Taking simple measures, and monitoring systems of work, could have easily prevented this serious accident”.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk

1. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/

HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

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