Winsford Company fined after worker injured by machinery

press.hse.gov.uk/2019/03/15/winsford-company-fined-after-worker-injured-by-machinery/

March 15, 2019

A manufacturing company today has been fined after a worker’s hand was caught in
machinery.

Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard how, on the 5 July 2017, an employee of Contour
Showers Ltd, Winsford, was trying to clear a blockage from a metal cutting saw, when
the blade cut through the knuckle of his left index finger damaging the tendon and
ligament, such that he was unable to work for 8 months.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that there was
inadequate guarding to prevent access to dangerous parts of the machinery and that
training had not been provided on isolation, lock-off procedures and safe systems of
work during maintenance activities. The investigation also found the Company had
failed to identify the risks associated with inadequately guarded machinery.

Contour Showers Ltd of Winsford, Cheshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of
the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and fined £14,000 with £5473.21 costs.

HSE inspector Lorna Sherlock said after the case: “This injury was easily preventable.
Employers should make sure they properly assess risk and apply effective control
measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery”.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for
workplace health and safety. We seek to prevent work-related death, injury and
ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours
across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual
businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific
expertise. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at:
www.legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

1/1