A scrap metal company has been fined after a worker lost parts of four fingers while operating poorly maintained machinery. The company was fined £26,680 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £7,005.50 at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on 9th November 2022.
A man working for Infinity Metals Limited suffered amputations to multiple fingers while operating the machinery at Vickerdale Works, in Leeds, on 27th March 2020.
The Health and Safety Executive found that while the employee was operating the crocodile shear, he leant over the machine while it was in motion to clear metal and caught his right hand in the machine. This caused him to suffer an amputation to four of his fingers.
The HSE inspector said: “The lack of clear roles and responsibilities together with insufficient training and poorly maintained machinery played a significant part in this incident”.
John says:
“It is really important to keep any maintenance log up to date. Where work equipment is exposed to deteriorating conditions liable to result in dangerous situations, it must be inspected to ensure faults are detected in good time so the risk to health and safety is managed. Anyone using, supervising, or managing the use of work equipment must be provided with adequate, clear health and safety information. This should include, where necessary, written instructions on it’s use and suitable equipment markings and warnings”.
Written by: John Carver
Comments