Recycling firm fined after worker injured
Young worker loses right arm in unguarded in-feed conveyor at Cheshire recycling facility
A RECYCLING company in Nantwich, Cheshire, has been fined £80,000 after a 24-year-old worker was seriously injured when he was dragged into machinery.
Chester Crown Court heard how the employee of Nick Brookes Recycling Ltd was dragged into an unguarded conveyor, resulting in his right arm having to be amputated up to his shoulder.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident, which occurred on 8 August 2013, found the conveyor belt to be in extremely poor condition and access to the belt possible as it was unguarded.
The employee was working on an ‘in-feed conveyor’ which transfers waste brought by skip wagons on to a picking line.
The court heard how the conveyor was jamming frequently in the run up to the incident and there was a lack of information, instruction, training and supervision provided by the company to it employees.
Nick Brookes Recycling Ltd, who pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, were fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £13,000.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Adam McMahon said: ‘Had the company assessed the risk, implemented the correct control measures and guarded the machine, then this horrific incident could have been prevented.’
