A clinical waste management company has been fined over £300,000 after an 18-year-old employee fractured his leg while loading a bin conveyor.
The teenager was working for SRCL Limited at its site in Oldham when his foot slipped into an unguarded conveyor channel, causing him to sustain several serious fractures to his right leg.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and failed to provide suitable guarding on the bin conveyor.
HSE guidance states that employers must take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery or to stop the movement of any such parts before any part of a person enters a danger zone.
This will normally be by fixed guarding, but where routine access is required, other measures may be necessary to prevent the movement of dangerous parts, such as interlocked guards or pressure mats.
SRCL Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 at Warrington Magistrates’ Court.
The company was fined £300,150, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2000 as well as £3931.85 in costs.
Commenting on the case, HSE Inspector Sam Eves said: “A young man at the beginning of his working life was failed by this company.”
“This incident could have so easily been avoided by properly assessing the risks and applying the correct control measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery.”
“Companies should know that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”