Keighley company fined for health and safety breach
A company located in Keighley has been prosecuted for safety breaches. The charges were brought against the company after a 2011 incident wherein a worker severed three fingers in a machine. The machine had rotating spikes. The employee was 26 at the time. He has lost two fingers completely with a third lost below the knuckle. The loss occurred on his dominant hand. The HSE was brought in for health and safety audits. They found the timed safety mechanism on the machine ran over. It was further found the company knew there was a problem but they did not fix it. It was a clear health and safety breach since the company had a duty of care to fix the issue but did not. It led to a worker losing fingers while filling cushions on the line.
There was a block in the machine so he stopped it, but the timing meant it ran longer than it should after being shut off. The employee thought he had enough time to get the blockage out, but found too late that he did not. The rollers were still moving and his hand was damaged. He had to be in the hospital for three days, have two operations and may need a third. The fine ordered is £15,000 with almost £3,000 in additional costs. The fine does not make up for the employees injury, but he is hopeful about using his hand again someday.
