Firm fined after worker’s leg is crushed in machine
A MANUFACTURING firm has been fined for a safety breach after an employee’s leg was crushed in a machine.
Siddall & Hilton, of Brighouse, was fined at Leeds Magistrates’ Court last week following the accident in January, 2016.
The worker suffered serious fractures to his lower leg while attempting to fix a metal mesh welding machine.
To find a faulty wire, the worker opened a gate which stopped the machine and climbed on top of the PV, the part of the machine that creates the mesh from welded materials.
To release the wire, the weld head needed to be lifted so his colleague exited and restarted the machine.
But because the machine was in automatic rather than manual mode, the PV immediately continued travelling towards the weld head, trapping the worker’s lower left leg and breaking both shin bones.
The employee was taken to hospital where he had surgery. In November 2018, he underwent further surgery to fuse his ankle.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company failed to implement robust isolation procedures as part of a safe system of work for entry into and out of the machine’s hazard zones.
Siddall & Hilton Products Ltd of Foundry Street, Brighouse, admitted breaching a health and safety law. Magistrates fined the company £16,000 and ordered them to pay £4,831 costs.
HSE inspector Jackie Ferguson said: “Maintenance and breakdowns are often the most hazardous and poorly controlled area of work. If a suitable safe system of work had been in place prior to the incident, the life-changing injuries sustained by the employee could have been prevented.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
Siddall and Hilton has been approached for comment.