Work accident news
26/07/2011

Factory worker loses arm in work accident

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a Leicestershire manufacturing company after an employee suffered horrific personal injuries in a work accident.

The 50-year-old employee had been working alongside his supervisor at the factory attempting to repair an industrial ‘corkscrew' machine when the accident took place.

While the fitter was working on the machine, known as an auger, his supervisor accidently triggered the power mechanism causing the machine to start up and rip the man's left arm off at the elbow joint.

The ensuing HSE investigation revealed that the repair work had been carried out without isolating the power supply of the machine. It was also discovered that the company had failed to issue the worker with initial training or adequate information about the machine he was working on.

Following the successful prosecution at Aylesbury Crown Court where the manufacturing firm admitted to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act, the company was fined £16,000 and ordered to pay £9,397 in court costs.

Speaking after the hearing a HSE inspector stated that the work accident could have been prevented if the right safety training and procedures had been carried out.