Plastics firm fined after two workers lose fingers in ten days

A company has been fined £16,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and section 3(1) The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. 

The first incident occurred on 12 August when an employee was attempting to clear a blockage in a sanding machine by reaching into a ventilation port. Her hand met a large metal rotating disk resulting in severe damage to her fingers, with two requiring amputation. 

On the 22 August another worker came into contact with the blade on a table saw that was being used to cut small strips of plastic resulting in the loss of his index finger and the top of his middle finger. 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the company had not taken adequate measures to prevent dangerous parts of the machinery from being accessible. Insufficient training was provided for use of the table saw, and there was no safe system of work or sufficient risk assessment in place for the cutting of small materials.