Horrific incidents highlight importance of safety devices

Manufacturer of new build homes Space 4 Limited from Castle Bromwich in Birmingham was fined £65,000 and ordered to pay costs of £60,000 at Birmingham Crown Court today, following a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The company pleaded guilty to a breach of section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, which places a duty on employers to ensure - so far as is reasonably practicable - the health, safety and welfare of workers.

The prosecution followed the death of Philip Macken on 10 December 2001, who was injecting insulation foam to an internal wall panel for use in a new build home.

Following a problem with the automated machine, Mr Macken entered the foam injection enclosure to make an adjustment, the HSE said. While inside the machine started automatically, leading to Mr Macken being trapped against the machine - receiving fatal crush injuries.

Speaking after the case HSE investigating inspector Tony Mitchell said: "Companies need to ensure that all safety devices are fully operational. In this case properly fitted interlocks would have prevented access to the enclosure, and saved Mr Macken's life.

"Guarding and fencing of automated machinery is a basic requirement and the standards are well known. Simple checks should be carried out to ensure workers are protected from dangerous parts and that safety features are fitted and in good order."

'Adequately guarded'

In an entirely separate case this week, the HSE successfully prosecuted a Rochdale company after a worker became entangled in revolving machinery - suffering serious injuries.

Newhey Carpets Ltd of Newhey, Rochdale, were fined £1,600 and ordered to pay £1,324 costs after pleading guilty to a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998 at Trafford Magistrates Court.

The prosecution arose from an incident on 24 August 2006 involving Newhey employee Gillian Handley, the main operator of a carpet-beaming machine, who suffered a dislocated and broken shoulder, a gashed arm and multiple bruising.

The HSE said the incident occurred because machinery guarding was not fixed or interlocked, and a trip wire was not in the correct position.

HSE inspector Richard Clarke added: "Gillian Handley was injured after she became caught in accessible rotating machinery. After the incident, her jacket was found caught in a projecting large metal pin attached to the machinery. Her injuries were serious enough, but the consequences of this incident could have been far worse.

"This case graphically illustrates that companies should ensure that all their machinery is adequately guarded for the safety of all employees."