Textiles firm fined £60k after worker’s arm dragged into machine
A textiles company has been fined £60,000 after a man broke his arm when it was dragged into machinery at a site near Chorley.
The employee, a man from Blackrod in Greater Manchester, suffered serious injuries to his right arm in the incident at the factory operated by Pin Croft Dyeing and Printing Co. Limited in Market Street, Adlington, on June 20, 2022.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the man had been operating a large fabric spooling machine when a brake malfunctioned.
During his attempt to manually slow the rotation of the machine, his sleeve became caught up with an exposed grooved spindle and his right arm was drawn into the mechanism. It became twisted by the rotation of the machine which broke both major bones in the forearm and caused serious tissue damage.
Despite the company being aware of the risk posed by the moving spindle, it failed to either remove or suitably guard this part of the machinery.
As a result of his injuries, the man, who was right-handed, spent four nights in hospital and was unable to return to work for six months.
Preston Magistrates Court heard that Pin Croft Dyeing and Printing Co, of Adlington Works, Market Street, Adlington, Lancashire, had neither guarded nor removed the exposed grooved spindle, despite being aware of the risk it posed to employees.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It was fined £60,000 and was ordered to pay £2.147 costs at a hearing at Preston Magistrates Court on January 31, 2024.
After the hearing, HSE inspector, David Bellis, said: “This man’s injuries were serious but they could have been much worse. The whole incident and its consequences could have been avoided if basic safeguards had been put in place.
“At HSE we would like highlight that all employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery.”
The prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Chloe Ward.
