Personal Injury Solicitors

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has successfully prosecuted a recycling firm, after an agency worker lost part of his arm in a conveyor belt he was maintaining.

Philip Grace, 43, from Liverpool was seriously injured on 26 January 2014, when his safety glove caught on a moving conveyor belt on the glass sorting machine on which he was carrying out maintenance at Recresco Ltd’s Manisty Wharf site in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

His arm was pulled into the machine and severed from above the wrist –attempts to reattach his hand were unsuccessful.

The surgery has left the father of one with limited mobility and in constant pain.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found multiple failings by the company, which put their own and agency workers at risk.

The company had failed to assess the risks associated with working on moving conveyor belts – as well as ensuring the machinery across their site was properly guarded.

The company did not have a safe system of work in place – and there was insufficient information, instruction or training relating to the conveyors, which routinely exposed their workers to dangerous situations.

On Thursday 18 June at Liverpool Crown Court Recresco Ltd, was fined £50,000 with costs £21,625.70 and a £120 victim surcharge, after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states:

It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.

Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states:

It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.

Following the hearing, HSE’s Inspector Jane Carroll said:

“Philip Grace’s life has been deeply affected by this entirely preventable incident.

“The need for safe systems of work, correct guarding, staff being trained and risk assessments being carried out are the basics of health and safety for a company like Recresco Ltd.

“Companies must recognise the need for proper safe systems of work, guarding and training to protect workers who are operating or maintaining heavy machinery like the conveyor belts used in the recycling industry.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Amputation Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise those who suffer amputation injuries as a result of negligence on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation, including amputation claims relating to:

• Accidents at work
• Animal attacks
• Holiday accidents
• Industrial accidents
• Medical negligence
• Military accidents
• Road traffic accidents
• Sports accidents.

Personal injury claims usually have to be made within three years of injury – children can make personal injury claims up to the age of 21.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Amputation Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors 020 7923 4020.