A Manchester-based factory failed to identify the dangers posed by modifications it made to a machine, which was subsequently involved in a fatality.
Reading Crown Court heard that a night-shift worker died when he was trapped in a machine at Duco International Ltd’s factory in Slough, Berkshire. Mitesh Prashar was operating an automatic inspection machine, which checks the quality of rolls of rubber and cloth printing blanket before delivery to customers. The blanket moves through the machine from one reel to another via a photographic unit, which checks the fabric for flaws.
The company modified the machine a year earlier so that a gauge, which measures the thickness of the printing blankets, was moved round from the rear of the machine to the front where the operator is positioned. The modification had an in-running nip and the company failed to identify the risk of workers accessing this part of the machine.
There were no witnesses to the incident, but at 2am on 15 January 2008, workers heard Mr Prashar scream in pain. They rushed over to the machine where he was found with his left arm, shoulder, head and torso trapped between the printing blanket and the roller. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The HSE’s investigation found that the company didn’t have a full-time health and safety manager at the site, and no risk assessment had been carried out after the modifications were made to the machine. HSE inspector Ray Kelly explained that the company should have installed guards to prevent access to the dangerous parts of the device.
The investigation also identified failings on five other machines at the site, which either had inadequate guarding, or presented risks of workers being able to access in-running nips. The company was issued with Prohibition Notices for each of the failings, and was also given three Improvement Notices for failing to properly plan, risk-assess, and monitor the modifications.
Inspector Kelly said: “This needless tragedy is typical of what can happen when health and safety management systems fail. Had the hazards been assessed, the lack of any guarding would have been highlighted, and this death could have been avoided.
“Companies should realise that when there are flagrant breaches of health and safety law HSE will prosecute.”
Duco International Ltd appeared in court on 8 September and pleaded guilty to breaching s2(1) of the HSWA 1974 and reg. 3(1)(a) of the MHWSWR 1999. The company was fined a total of £200,000 and ordered to pay £43,352 in costs.
In mitigation, the company said it had no previous convictions and had complied with all the enforcement notices. It also said that the factory was demolished earlier this year and the company has ceased trading.
