It’s frequently in the news about firms being fined over accidents at work involving machinery. Most recently a textiles firm was fined £60,000 after a mans' arm was broken when it was dragged into a machine.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the man had been operating a fabric spooling machine when a brake malfunctioned. As he attempted to manually slow the rotation of the machine, his sleeve got caught on an exposed grooved spindle and his right arm was drawn into the machine. The rotation of the machine twisted his arm, breaking both major bones in his forearm and causing serious tissue damage.

 Despite the company being aware of the risk posed by the moving spindle, they failed to either remove or properly guard this part of the machinery.

In October 2023 a workers’ arm was pulled into a chicken-processing machine. His wrist was crushed in an entirely ‘preventable accident’. The firm was fined £20,000 after it admitted breaching health and safety rules.

HS Butyl Limited was fined £80,000 at West Hampshire Magistrates’ Court in June 2023 after an employee was injured. The man had his arm broken in two places when it became trapped and entangled between a machine’s conveyor belt and pulley.

Accidents involving trapping or injuring the arm or hand in workplace machinery can often lead to long term disabilities, severe injury and even fatalities.

 The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) requires employers to ensure that equipment used at work is safe and appropriately maintained. Trapping arm and hand accidents often occur due to machinery malfunction, inadequate training, human errors or inadequate health and safety measures.

Katrina Elsey , senior associate in the Personal Injury team said: “I welcome the fines imposed following these terrible accidents at work. I urge employers and others responsible for workers safety, including the suppliers of machinery, to take health and safety seriously and do all they can to prevent workers from suffering injury.

“Injuries from accidents at work can be lifechanging. I hope the fines imposed in these cases serves as a warning to employers that they must take the safety of workers seriously.

“As a personal injury lawyer, I see too many people injured while carrying out their normal duties at work. Many cases could be avoided if businesses followed simple health and safety procedures”.

If you've been injured in an accident at work, call and speak to one of our friendly team. We'll discuss your case with you in complete confidence and without obligation. Call 01302 320621 or email brief details to help@switalskis.com