Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 4th June 2026 Issue no. 1213
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Manufacturer fined £340,000 after worker is seriously injured while cleaning machinery
A manufacturing company has been fined £340,000 after an employee was seriously injured while cleaning machinery at its site in Swindon.
The 42-year-old man had been working a night shift for Tyco Electronics UK at its premises on Faraday Road in Swindon in March 2023. He had been tasked with cleaning a machine used to manufacture pellets made from a mixture of raw materials. During the cleaning process, the worker manually raised the hydraulic ram inside the machine and opened the door. He then used his left hand to reach into the open space to clean the machine.
However, as he withdrew his arm, the door fell at the front of the machine and activated the hydraulic ram, trapping his limb. He managed to pull his arm free, tearing nerves and tendons, before shouting for help.
He required three operations to reattach his fingers and spent 10 days in hospital. He attended Southmead Hospital twice weekly for dressing changes and physiotherapy. He continues to experience loss of sensation and movement in his fingers, although he has regained some movement in his thumb.
An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that Tyco Electronics UK failed to put suitable and sufficient measures in place to prevent employees from being put at risk while cleaning the machine. The investigation also identified that employees had not been provided with sufficient information and instruction on how to use and clean the machine safely. Training was found to be inadequate, and employees were not suitably supervised.
HSE guidance on safe use of work equipment highlights the importance of following safe isolation and lock-off procedures before carrying out any maintenance or cleaning work on machinery. Employers must ensure that equipment is properly isolated from all power sources and that systems are regularly monitored and reviewed to prevent inadvertent start-up.
Tyco Electronics UK, pleaded guilty at Bristol Magistrates' Court last month to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £340,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,145.
"Machinery accidents during maintenance and cleaning are all too common, often with serious consequences,” says HSE Inspector Emma Preston. "Workers should ensure that machinery is properly isolated from all sources of power so that it cannot restart during the task. Incidents like this can and should be prevented by following robust lock-off procedures."
Relevant guidance on the safe use of work equipment can be found at:
4th June 2026