Injection moulding company fined after worker suffers serious injuries

An injection moulding company based in Wrexham has been handed a £150,000 fine after a worker suffered serious injuries while trying to free a blockage.

Wrexham Magistrates’ Court heard how a Brother Industries (UK) employee was injured while trying to clear a blockage on a plastics injection moulding machine, resulting in serious burns and multiple fractures to his heel which caused him to miss three months of work.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident in December 2016, found that there was no safe system of work for clearing blockages on plastic injection moulding machines.

Brother Industries (UK) of Vauxhall Industrial Estate, Ruabon pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay costs of £7,659.98 as well as the £150,000 fine.

HSE inspector Christina Roberts said: “Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of work and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of work.

“If a suitable safe system of work had been in place prior to the incident, the life changing injuries sustained by the employee could have been prevented.”