According to recent reports, a worker had to have his arm amputated after an accident at work involving machinery. York Magistrates’ Court heard that on 25 January 2019, the worker became entangled on either the rotating workpiece or the chuck as it rotated. He sustained extensive injuries, which include a punctured lung, broken neck, fractures to the back, ribs, arm, and shoulder blade. He subsequently had his left arm amputated at the shoulder.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that machinery standards across the site were poor. Many machines also did not have guards on them. The company received three prohibition and five improvement notices. These included machine guarding, welfare, and management issues.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They had to pay a fine of £60,000 and costs of £7,618.
Speaking after the hearing, an HSE inspector said: “Entanglement incidents on unguarded rotating machinery are far too common. The worker’s injuries were life changing and he also could have easily been killed. The company could have avoided this serious incident and devastation if basic safeguards, risk assessments, supervision and instruction were in place.”
Accidents at Work Involving Machinery
Accidents at work involving machinery can be very serious. Machinery must adhere to a certain standard so that it is safe to use, and your employer must conduct regular checks and tests to prevent machine accidents.
Your employer has to ensure that machinery is safe to use. There are regulations in place to ensure that your employer keeps the machinery safe and keeps the staff safe from machinery injuries.
In the accident where the worker was injured, the machine did not have a guard on it. Therefore, this means that the machinery did not adhere to the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).
In these regulations, employers must make sure that machinery is safe to use and also fit for purpose. This includes:
- Taking appropriate hardware measures – providing suitable guards, protection devices, warning devices, emergency stop buttons and other system control devices
- Taking appropriate software measures – ensuring maintenance is only performed when equipment is shut down, providing adequate instruction, information, and training about the equipment, and following safe systems of work
- Ensuring the equipment is suitable for use, maintained in a safe condition for use, and regularly inspected
If your employer fails to do any of this, then they may be at fault for the accident, and you may be able to claim compensation. This was the case with the accident at work involving machinery and the worker who had to have his arm amputated.
How We Can Help
Here at The Compensation Experts we work with solicitors who have years of experience in personal injury claims. This includes an accident at work involving machinery. So contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable advisors.