Company fined after worker gets crushed by machinery

Spectral Colours Limited (SCL) based in Lancashire have been fined after a worker was crushed by a machine.

Accident at Work

On the 30th April of 2014, Manchester Crown Court heard the case of a 57-year old worker who was employed by Spectral Colours Limited (SCL). The worker was cleaning the dispersion mixing machine when he sat on one of the clamping arms. This subsequently collapsed and pinned the worker’s leg underneath the machine. As a result he suffered a fractured ankle and severe crush injuries to his foot.

Health and Safety Investigation

An investigation into the incident was launched by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The investigation concluded that the company failed to secure the machine correctly on site to the ground thus increasing the risk of the machinery toppling and injuring employees.

Sentencing and fines

Spectral Colours Limited of Crawford Street, Rochdale, Lancashire has today pleaded guilty of breaching Regulation 20 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
The corporation has been fined £3000 and ordered to pay costs of £22,444.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Tim Beaumont said:

“This case highlights the need for all duty holders to ensure all machinery in their workplaces are properly fixed and maintained to the required safety standard.

“If Spectral Colours had been more thorough in ensuring that the installation of the machinery was completed properly then this accident wouldn’t have happened.”

Compensation may be available if you have been injured in an accident at work that wasn’t your fault. More information can be found via our ‘Accidents at Work’ page.

To begin your accident at work claim, contact us today. Remember, we offer you a FREE no obligation-consultation. Call 0800 888 6 888 or email .

Source: Health and Safety Executive