The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a Cardiff-based steel manufacturing company, after a worker sustained serious crush injuries to his hand.
On 23 October 2015, the unnamed 51-year-old worker was removing leftover steel from a machine called a Koch Straightener – used for straightening steel wire – when he trapped his hand between the rotating rollers inside the machine.
The worker suffered serious crush injuries to his hand and lost the top of his right index finger as a result of the incident, which occurred at Cardiff steel manufacturer Rom Ltd’s site in Lichfield, Staffordshire.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that the company had failed to identify the risks associated with workers manually operating the machine – and no steps had been taken to ensure the machine was correctly guarded.
It was also found that the company had failed to provide the required level of supervision for the activity and, as a result, this had led to the worker sustaining the injuries.
At North Staffordshire Justice Centre, Rom Ltd of Castle Works, East Moors Road in Cardiff pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
The company was fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £17,200.63.
After the hearing, HSE inspector David Keane said:
“This man suffered a life-changing injury – the company failed to protect the worker from harm by not properly considering the risks associated with manually operating dangerous machinery such as this.”
Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors
Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise those who suffer crush injuries as a result of negligence on how to make a no win no fee compensation claim – including claims relating to:
Duncan Lewis also offers supportive legal advice to bereaved families whose loved one has lost their life as a result of fatal crush injuries caused by negligence and who wish to claim compensation.
For expert legal advice on no win no fee Crush Injury Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 0333 772 0409.