Defence manufacturer fined over pre-administration accident

A COMPANY that was bought out of administration last year has been prosecuted over an historic incident in which a worker fractured his arm.

Rotherham Group Realisations, formerly MTL Group, went into administration in February 2015 before being bought by Lancashire-based WEC Group, saving 135 jobs.

A new company, MTL Advanced, was set up to acquire the business and most of the assets of MTL Group.

The company has now had to pay a fine over an incident in September 2014.

Rotherham Magistrates’ Court heard that an employee of the group was given no instructions on a given task to turn and polish metal bars.

The Health and Safety Executive said that he was holding emery cloth in his gloved hand around the rotating metal bar in the lathe when his hand came into contact with the metal bar.
He sustained fractures to his right arm, wrist and hand.

Rotherham Group Realisations Limited was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,014.

Administrators at EY said that it is an unsecured claim which will go unpaid as the company does not have the financial means to pay the fine.