NEWS
MANUFACTURER SENTENCED AFTER WORKER INJURED BY
UNGUARDED MACHINERY A company that manufactures absorbent products has been charged after an agency worker suffered a life-changing injury to her hand when it was caught in a rotating fan blade.
On 18 October 2017, the 34-year-old agency worker had been working her second shift at the NPS Worldwide UK Limited site at Oldham. While removing a blockage inside the filling machine she had been operating, her fingers became caught in an unguarded rotating fan.
The agency worker lost parts of all of her fingers on her right hand, sustained extensive scarring to her stomach following an unsuccessful attempt to generate new skin growth to save her fingers, and continues to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the incident and the injuries sustained.
An investigation found the fan had not been suitably guarded, putting employees and agency workers at risk. The company had failed to carry out a suitable risk assessment and provide adequate information, instruction and training to workers. No first aid provision was available on the night shift when the incident occurred, and this contributed to the injured person suffering further as incorrect first aid was administered.
NPS Worldwide UK Limited of Vulcan Business Park, Derker Street, Oldham, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 3(2) of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. The company was fined £28,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,771.
HSE Inspector Sharon Butler said after the hearing: “This injury could have easily been prevented and the risk should have been identified.
“Employers must make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery.”
COMPANY FINED FOLLOWING MULTIPLE SAFETY FAILINGS ON
CONSTRUCTION SITE A construction company has been prosecuted after failing to ensure the safety and welfare of workers on site during the renovation of a property.
Preston Magistrates’ Court heard how, between 12 December 2015 and 14 June 2018, Navkaar Limited put its workers at serious risk of personal injury or death at a construction site in Blackpool. The company failed to prevent risks from falls from height, exposure to asbestos and dangerous electrical systems. There were no suitable welfare facilities and no measures to prevent fire on site.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that workers on site had carried out work in an unsafe manner without the appropriate measures in place to ensure their health, safety and welfare.
The employees and contractors on site
did not have the appropriate skills, knowledge and experience to complete the work. Navkaar Limited failed to comply with their duty as principal contractor to plan, manage and monitor the work being carried out on site.
Navkaar Limited of Station Approach, Northwood pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The company was fined £35,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,860.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Jacqueline Western, said: “These risks could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
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