Ductwork company fined for worker’s injury

UK: A ductwork fabrication company has been fined £12,000 after an apprentice suffered serious hand injuries when he was drawn into machinery.

A 19-year-old apprentice at Air Management & Design Ltd of Spencroft Road, Newcastle under Lyme, was injured when forming a piece of sheet metal into a radius using a three-roll bending machine. He was wearing gloves when his hand was drawn in by the in-running nip between two steel rollers. As a result, the apprentice had two fingers severed and also suffered crush injuries to his right hand.

An investigation into the incident on March 3, 2018, by the Health and Safety Executive, found that a safe system of work, adequate training and effective supervision were lacking. The use of gloves increased the likelihood of being drawn in to the dangerous parts of the machine.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act, was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,301.20.

HSE inspector Wendy Campbell said after the hearing: “A young man’s life has been changed because his employer failed to ensure adequate training in and supervision of a safe system of work for the use of a powered three roll bending machine.

“This is a reminder to all companies to check that fully fingered gloves are not worn, and safe systems of work are in place and being followed for operation of dangerous machinery such as three-roll bending machines.”