Worker’s Hand Crushed
A man has sustained nerve damage to his hand in an incident involving assembly machinery at work.
David Potts, 31, from Stanley, was attempting to reposition a jammed component of the heavy duty machinery when the injury occurred.
Upon the component’s release, the machinery immediately began to operate and trapped Mr Pott’s hand – Co-workers were unable to release him for upwards of five minutes.
In an investigation led by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Consett Magistrates’ Court heard that the machine’s interlocking safety mechanism had been rendered inactive, allowing access to the internal dangerous moving parts.
HSE discovered that the company had failed to ensure all safety devices were in working order, and was therefore in breach of the Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Radford HMY Group Limited, of the Hobson Industrial Estate, Burnopfield, was ordered to pay £5,388.30 in costs, and fined £2,000
HSE Inspector Cain Mitchell commented:
“Mr Potts suffered a serious and preventable injury because of the failure by Radford HMY Group Limited to ensure that safety devices were maintained in an effective condition and that
suitable procedures were in place to safely enter the machine enclosure.”
If you think you, or someone you know, has been affected by anything in or relating to this article and would like expert advice on injuries sustained in the workplace, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6888 or email
