Manufacturing Firm Fined After Employee Suffers Multiple Fractures

A manufacturing firm has been fined following an incident in which an employee suffered injuries to both of his thighs and multiple fractures to his left leg.

Incident

In June 2013, an employee of SPS Aerostructures Limited was cleaning excess metal filings from a conveyor belt in an attempt to clear a blockage. The worker slipped and as a guard had been removed from the conveyor, he fell into the machine which was running at the time. Nottingham Crown Court heard how the employee was trapped in the machine for around 20 minutes.

HSE Investigation

The Health and Safety Executive’s investigation into the incident found that SPS Aerostructures had failed to avert access to dangerous parts of the machine. The court was told that employees would regularly access the conveyor without detaching it. The court also heard how it was easy to remove the guards, allowing access to the conveyor whilst it was still in motion.

Fines

SPS Aerostructures Limited, of Sherwood Business Park, Annesley, Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to offences under Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). The company was fined a total of £60,000 and ordered to pay costs of £11,038.

Injury at Work – Expert Advice

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Source: Health & Safety Executive