A food manufacturer has been fined after a worker was trapped by a mixing machine.

On 16 October 2017, the 59-year-old worker was creating the mix for fish cakes at a factory in Grimsby.  At the end of a mix run he went to clear the mix from the machine, lifting an interlocked guard that should have stopped the machine from running.  He put his hand into the machine without realising it was still running and the augur caught his hand and drew his arm in up to the elbow.

The worker managed to free himself from the augur but in removing his arm, his thumb and two of his fingers were severed and he suffered serious tendon damage. Following the incident doctors were unable to reattach his fingers and he has not yet been able to return to work.

Investigating, the HSE found that the machine continued to run when the safety guard was lifted and failed to respond when the emergency stop was pressed. The interlocking system was inadequate, and the company had failed to ensure that the machine was effectively maintained.  These matters were exacerbated by poor communication between the shop floor and maintenance and an inadequate fault reporting system.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and has been fined £787,500 and ordered to pay £33,443.68 in costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Carol Downes commented: “The life changing injuries sustained by the employee could have been prevented and the risk should have been identified. Being pro-active with preventative maintenance and good communication of faults can reduce the chance of harm.”

A company has been fined after a worker was seriously injured following a workplace transport incident.

On 17 February 2017, an employee of a contractor that had a permanent presence on the site, was struck by a forklift truck (FLT) when he was walking along the internal roadway at the back yard end of the site. He was struck from behind by the FLT and trapped beneath the metal container it was carrying. He was dragged along the ground and received multiple serious and life changing injuries, including the loss of a leg.

The HSE’s investigation found that the company’s workplace transport risk assessment did not ensure that suitable and sufficient traffic management arrangements, including pedestrian and vehicle segregation, were in place.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and has been fined £600,000 and ordered to pay costs of £ £38,183.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Rhys Hughes said: “This was a tragic and wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure of the host company to undertake and implement an adequate risk assessment and ensure a safe system of work was in place“.

“This risk was further amplified by the company’s failure to implement a number of simple safety measures including separation and segregation of vehicles and pedestrians.”

HSE
May 2021

HSE have issued guidance to assist companies returning to workplace settings. Social distancing means keeping people apart to help reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Where possible, you should keep people 2m apart. If this is not possible, consider additional control measures.

In the UK some rules about social distancing may be different in each of the devolved nations. However, HSE regulates in all of these countries. You should check the public health guidance for the country you are in:

• Wales
• England
• Scotland

You must ensure that workers and other people visiting your workplace understand and comply with the measures you put in place.

Social distancing should form part of your business’s risk assessment and is one of the steps needed to make your workplace COVID-secure.

The GOV.UK guides on working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) explain the control measures that different types of business should consider. These cover construction, factories, offices, vehicle use and other types of work. The guides apply to workplaces in England.

Some of the measures you can put in place to maintain social distancing include:

• using floor tape or paint to mark work areas
• providing signage to remind people to keep a 2 m distance
• having people working side-by-side rather than face-to-face
• limiting movement of people:
  • rotating between jobs and equipment
  • using lifts and work vehicles
  • in high-traffic areas like corridors, turnstiles and walkways
  • allow only essential trips within buildings and between sites

These web pages explain the control measures you can use for different work areas and activities and the additional measures you can use where social distancing is not possible.

Common Areas

Workstations

Arriving and Leaving

Moving around Building and worksites

Where 2m Social Distancing is not possible

Using Vehicles

Emergencies, Security and other incidents