An employee’s hand became trapped in a sanding machine, causing burn injuries that needed surgery. Plastics manufacturer Greenbox OEM Limited has been fined following the incident.Worcester Magistrates’ Court heard how Kristofer Odell was instructed to put his hand on a moving rubber roller to check its temperature during routine maintenance of the roller and when doing this, his hand was pulled in and became trapped between the moving roller and the structure of the machine resulting in burn injuries.
The Health and Safety Executive’s investigation into the incident, which occurred on 19 October 2016, found the system of work for carrying out the maintenance of the roller was unsafe.
Greenbox OEM Limited of Hampton Lovett industrial Estate, Droitwich Spa pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
The company was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,921.20.
After the hearing HSE inspector Elizabeth Thomas said: “Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working.
“If a suitable, safe system of work had been in place prior to the incident, the injuries sustained by Mr Odell could have been prevented.”
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