A North West food manufacturing giant has been fined £20,000 after an employee suffered a serious hand injury at their factory.
The employee was making a part for a packaging machine and was attempting to polish a part as it moved on a metal-working machine. He suffered deep cuts resulting in the loss of his left index finger and nerve damage to two fingers.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the employers ought to have properly risk assessed and identified safety measures for the task, such as an alternative way of polishing the part. The employer pleaded guilty to breaching regulations 3 and 6 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Regulation 3(1)(a) of the regulations states;
“Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work.”
Regulation 9(1) states;
“Every employer shall ensure that all persons who use work equipment have received adequate training for purposes of health and safety, including training in the methods which may be adopted when using the work equipment, any risks which such use may entail and precautions to be taken.”
Once again, the case shows how important it is for the protection of employees that employers follow the health and safety legislation in place. The HSE report that 25 workers were killed in the UK manufacturing industry last year and more than 4,000 suffered major injuries.
If you have been injured at work, please contact Gregory Abrams Davidson Solicitors on the above number for advice.
