Tata Steel has been fined a whopping £1.98m for two separate incidents that saw workers injure their hands…
Steel company Tata Steel has been fined after workers sustained injuries. The case, which was brought before Northampton Crown Court, revealed how two employees were hurt in two separate incidents.
The first saw a 26-year-old employee lose two-thirds of his left hand, as well as his middle and ring finger. The employee was trying to clear a blockage on a steel tube manufacturing line which had unsuitable guarding when the incident occurred.
The second injury happened when a 52-year-old team leader lost part of his little finger when his left hand was caught in an inadequately guarded machine during refresher training.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out an investigation following the accidents and found failures to guard the machines and manage the risks associated with them.
Tata UK Limited was fined £1.98m, with £185,000 for the first event and £1.8m for the second, and was ordered to pay costs of £22,500 after pleading guilty to two counts of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Mark Austin said: “Guarding of dangerous parts of machinery is a fundamental of ensuring workers safety, HSE will not hesitate to hold those accountable who do not fulfil their legal obligations, especially if that results in someone receiving life changing injuries.”
For further information on machinery visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-machinery