Work accident news
23/12/2011

St Helens factory fined £10k for accident at work

A Merseyside manufacturer has been prosecuted after a man's hand was crushed in an accident at work.

The 47-year-old lost a finger and part of the palm of his hand as a result of the industrial injury, in January this year.

Knowsley Magistrates' Court heard the worker did not remember the incident, which occurred while he was using a metal press to mould parts used by the gas industry.

However, a work accident investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) suggested that he inadvertently pressed the foot pedal on the machine while his hand was under the mould.

It had been installed at the St Helens factory in 1967, the court was told, but had not been upgraded to comply with modern health and safety codes.

An HSE spokesperson said the factory should have installed guarding on the machine to prevent workplace accidents.

"It simply shouldn't have been possible for an employee to start a machine while his hand was still under the mould," she said.

"It's vital that manufacturers using older machines keep them up to date with modern health and safety standards to protect their workers."

Factory bosses admitted a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations by failing to prevent access to the dangerous parts of the machine while it was in use.

The accident at work cost the company £10,000 in fines and £4,560 in prosecution costs.