Three workers injured by same machine

A rubber hose manufacturer’s employers liability insurance does not look healthy after it has been discovered that 3 workers were injured on the same machine.

At Oldham Seals Limited, a hose builder was unwinding a fabric bandage that had been wrapped around a hose mounted on a rotating machine part called a lathe. The bandage wound round his left hand pulling it into the machine. It was tight enough to amputate his thumb and partially remove part of his index finger.

An investigation by the health and safety executive (HSE) then brought to light that two incidents had taken place on this machine prior to this incident.

One worker had his glove entangled in the machine and he was pulled towards the rotating parts. He suffered bruising and cuts to his torso. The other worker had caught his leg when he was winding rope around a hose he was building on a lathe. The rope snapped but he suffered severe lacerations to his left leg.

At Chichester Magistrates’ Court, Oldham Seals Limited pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,151.25.

HSE Inspector, Michelle Taylor said:

“These three incidents are terrible and all because the company did not have simple guards to cover the moving parts of the machine and prevent entanglement. Also, the company should have made an assessment of the practical measures which could have controlled the risks. Had they done so, then these dreadful incidents would have been prevented.”

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