Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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Recycling company fined after worker was injured in machinery
A recycling company in Nantwich has been fined after a 24-year-old worker was seriously injured when he was dragged into machinery. Chester Crown Court heard how a worker for Nick Brookes Recycling was dragged into the unguarded conveyor resulting in his right arm having to be amputated up to his shoulder.
An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive into the incident which occurred in August 2013 found that the conveyor belt was in extremely poor condition and access to the belt was possible as it was unguarded.
The employee was working on an 'infeed conveyor' which transfers waste brought by skip wagons onto a picking line. The Court heard how the conveyor was jamming frequently in the run up to the incident and there was a lack of information, instruction, training and supervision provided by the company to it employees.
Nick Brookes Recycling, of Green Lane, Wardle, Nantwich, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £13,000.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Adam McMahon said: "Had the company assessed the risk, implemented the correct control measures and guarded the machine then the horrific incident could have been prevented".
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