In court

KT Recycling Ltd: Waste firm fined after machine injures worker

Alison Fava

An employee of waste recycling company KT Recycling Ltd was injured whilst operating unguarded machinery at the company’s site in Rough Hey Industrial Estate, Preston.

Blackburn Magistrates’ Court was told how, on 13 April 2017, the employee was attempting to remove waste material when his hand became trapped between the conveyor belt and drive roller of a magnetic separator. The incident caused extensive damage to his left forearm, leaving him with a lasting impairment in the use of his arm.

Investigating, the HSE found that:

• Guard plates had been removed several weeks before the incident but had not been replaced;
• The company had no procedures to check the guard plates were correctly fitted;
• Tthe company had failed to provide suitable training in the safe use of the machine, and had failed to adequately supervise the operatives who used it.

KT Recycling Ltd of Gaskel House, Rough Hey Industrial Estate, Preston, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was ordered to pay fines of £20,000 and costs of £13,000.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Anthony Banks said: “This incident could easily have been avoided if the company had put procedures in place to ensure that guard plates were maintained correctly, and their use was properly supervised.

“HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

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