Textile company fined after worker’s arm crushed in roll of fabric

A fabric manufacturer has been fined after a worker’s arm was so badly crushed he had to have metal plates inserted to help support his broken bones.

Agency worker Robert Dunn, 32, of Ringwood, South Bretton, Peterborough, was operating a fabric winding machine on 4 November 2009 when his left arm was drawn into the roll of material and crushed, breaking all three arm bones. He also suffered ripped cartilage in his left knee, caused by the sudden movement.

E-Leather Limited appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court today and admitted breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and Regulation 3(1)(b) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

The company, based at the Kingsbridge Centre, Sturrock Way, Peterborough, was fined £13,500 and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found inadequate safety guards on dangerous parts of machinery and no sufficient and suitable risk assessment in place.

HSE Inspector Alison Ashworth said:

“Robert Dunn suffered a terrible injury because of an incident that was entirely avoidable. Proper safety guards play an important role in protecting workers from dangerous moving parts and the company had a responsibility to ensure suitable guarding was in place. Had a suitable and sufficient risk assessment been carried out then this issue would have been highlighted straight away.”

“HSE will continue to prosecute companies that fail to carry out their duty to ensure the health and safety of their employees.”