Both the operating business and the machinery installer have admitted safety failings after a worker had his finger ripped off by an unguarded machine at a factory in Wales.
Brian Allen, 53, was working at Ardagh Metal Packaging (UK) Ltd’s factory in Dragon Parc, Merthyr Tydfil, when the incident took place on 25 January 2011.
He was feeding sheets into the conveyor of a coating machine when his wedding ring got caught and his finger was severed. He still suffers continual pain and is unable to grip properly with his injured hand.
The HSE investigated the incident and found Crabtree of Gateshead Ltd had installed the machine without guards around the moving parts. Ardagh Metal Packaging had also failed to identify the risks posed by the missing guards.
On 4 March 2011, the HSE issued two Improvement Notices, which required Ardagh Metal Packaging to carry out a sufficient risk assessment and install guards on the machine.
HSE inspector Paul Cartwright said: “Risk assessments by Crabtree identified that the conveyor could cause injury and a warning was included in the operating manual, but they nonetheless supplied the machine without adequate guarding.
“Ardagh, meanwhile, failed to identify the risk, despite the practice of hand-feeding sheets into the conveyor being well known to operators.
“This case demonstrates the need for employers to carry out their own assessment of the risks posed by machinery, based on the circumstances in which the equipment will be used. It is not sufficient to assume that [a machine] is safe as soon as it is purchased.”
Ardagh Metal Packaging (UK) Ltd appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court yesterday (6 June) and pleaded guilty to breaching reg.11(1) of PUWER 1998. It was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £11,754 in costs.
Crabtree of Gateshead Ltd appeared at the same hearing and pleaded guilty to the same charge. It was fined £3000 and ordered to pay £14,570 towards costs.
After the hearing, inspector Paul Cartwright added: “Involving workers in the risk-assessment process is crucial. Had the employees been consulted by either company it would have been apparent that hand-feeding of sheets on to the conveyor took place. This would have alerted Ardagh and Crabtree to the need for adequate guarding, which has now been installed.”