Health and safety training companies can help metal recycling company

A metal recycling company in Birmingham was fined after a 28 year-old man was injured. The injury occurred to his arm when it became trapped in the conveyor belt at the recycling plant in 2010. Hawkeswood Metal Recycling failed to provide health and safety at work for the employee whose arm was trapped after trying to retrieve scrap metal that was stuck in the conveyor machine.

The employee used his right hand to free the metal, however his gloved hand was caught between the rotating roller and the conveyor belt, which caused his arm to be dragged into the machine resulting in a broken arm. The man also suffered from damage to his wrist after the incident. The man was out of work for nine months because of these injuries. The HSE investigated the problem to find no guarding was in place. This is designed to protect the employees from moving parts on the recycling machine. The accident could have been avoided, leading to the decision from the local court to fine Hawkeswood Metal Recycling 50,000 pounds and an additional 10,000 pounds in court costs.

Health and safety training companies are available to help reduce the safety and health errors in a business. These training companies can provide possible workstation risk assessment protocols and remind companies of important safety features machines should have. Hawkeswood Metal Recycling could have avoided the injury and court costs by providing a guard on the machine.