Chain manufacturer prosecuted over mangled hand

Poor safety system results in £80,000 fine after worker loses fingers in overhead crane hook incident

A STOCKPORT worker’s left hand was badly mangled in the hook on a crane because lifting chains were unavailable – despite such chains being manufactured in the same factory, a court has heard.

David Taylor lost part of all his fingers in the incident at Renold Power Transmission Ltd on the Bredbury Park Industrial Estate in Stockport on 14 September 2011.

The company, which manufactures chains for conveyor belts and forklift trucks, was fined £80,000 after an HSE investigation found it did not have a safe system for moving heavy tooling equipment.

Manchester Crown Court was told that Mr Taylor had been operating an overhead crane in the tool preparation area to lift equipment weighing nearly 300kg, using straps that had already been placed around it.

As he moved the crane with a poorly labelled hand-held control, the equipment slipped out of the straps and started to fall towards him. He raised his left hand to protect himself but it became caught in one of the straps and was pulled into the crane’s hook.

Mr Taylor lost half his thumb, the tip of his index finger, two thirds of his middle and ring fingers, and all of the little finger on his left hand.

The HSE investigation established that the company had failed to produce a written risk assessment for the work, and there was not a safe system of work in place. Mr Taylor had also never received any formal training to use the crane, despite working for the firm for nearly three months.

Renold have since changed their working practices and now use eye bolts and chains to lift heavy equipment. The court heard that no chains were available on the day of the incident – despite the fact that they are manufactured by the company.

Renold Power Transmission Ltd were fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,696 after pleading guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The HSE’s investigating inspector, Ian Betley, said: ‘One of Renold’s employees has suffered severe injuries to his left hand that will affect him for the rest of his life due to the company’s poor safety system for using the crane.

‘It’s shocking that the chains produced by the company weren’t available on the day of the incident for use by its own employees. Instead, David had to use an unchoked sling to lift a heavy tool, which led to him being badly injured.

‘If the tool had been properly secured before being lifted, his injuries could have been avoided.’