Polyflor fined after worker’s injury

NORTH West flooring manufacturer has been found guilty of safety failings after an employee was dragged into an unguarded machine at its factory in Greater Manchester.

Polyflor, part of lsited company James Halstead, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident at its factory on Radcliffe New Road in Whitefield in May 2011.

During a four-day trial at Manchester Crown Court, the jury heard that the male worker, who has asked not to be named, was working on a nightshift when a conveyor belt became jammed.

Maintenance workers were unable to repair the fault and guards from the machine were removed so that it could continue to operate. The injured worker was using a spanner to try to stop the belt rubbing when he was pulled into the machine.

The 43-year-old from Sale had to be cut free and suffered a broken arm. He was off work for seven weeks to recover.

Polyflor, of Radcliffe, was found guilty of a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 for failing to ensure routine maintenance work could be carried out safely on the machine.

The company was fined £7,500 and ordered to pay £34,000 in prosecution costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Emily Osborne said: “The Polyflor employee was lucky to escape with a broken arm. His injuries could have been much worse.

“The company should never have allowed workers to be put at risk by letting them carry out maintenance work to the machine while it was still operating.

“It has since installed a new safety system on the conveyor belt which makes it impossible for it to be run when the guards have been removed.”