A tyre-recycling company in Northern Ireland failed to ensure vital safety measures were in place to protect workers using a conveyor.
On 22 July last year, Andrzej Zemela was attempting to clear a blockage of accumulated shredded tyre pieces from an operating conveyor at OM Tyre Recycling Ltd’s factory in Mayobridge.
A fixed side guard had been removed from around the tail pulley, and when he cleared the blockage his hand was pulled into the machine. He suffered serious injuries to his right hand and arm and has been unable to return to work.
The HSENI visited the site on the day of the incident and found that the machine was prone to blockages and no safe system of work was in place to clear debris. Inspectors also identified that the machine didn’t have a pull-cord emergency-stop switch.
The company was issued a Prohibition Notice, which required it to stop using the conveyor until suitable guards were installed. HSENI major-investigations team inspector Denise Donaghy said: “This incident should have been avoided and it highlights the dangers involved when clearing blockages from machinery. It’s important that companies identify and address hazards in the workplace.
“Companies must ensure that guards are maintained in place and that procedures are in place to ensure that work is not carried out while machinery is still moving.”
OM Tyre Recycling appeared at Newry Crown Court on 8 November and pleaded guilty to breaching:
• article 4(1) of the Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order 1978 – for failing to ensure the safety of employees;
• reg.8(1) of PUWER (NI) 1999 – for not providing employees with written instructions to operate the machine;
• reg.11(1)(a) and reg.11(2)(a) of PUWER (NI) 1999 – for failing to prevent access to the dangerous parts of the conveyor; and
• reg.16(1) of PUWER (NI) 1999 – for not having an emergency-stop control.
The company was fined a total of £7500 and given a 12-month conditional discharge. It was also ordered to pay £1764 in costs.
The firm mitigated that it cooperated with the investigation and has now put adequate guards on the machine. It had no previous safety convictions.
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