Steel firm fined £5,000 for worker injury

A ST HELENS steel manufacturer has been sentenced after a worker suffered serious injuries to his left hand when it was pulled into machinery.

Hi-Tech Steel Services was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident at its factory at Bold Industrial Estate on Neills Road on June 25 last year.

The 43-year-old from Thatto Heath received a cut of around 6.5cm between the third and ring finger on his left hand. He also suffered crush injuries to the tips of his fingers.

St Helens Magistrates’ Court heard the worker had been able to gain access to a machine, used to produce reels of thin steel strips, while it was still operating. He was taping up the end of one of the strips to stop it flapping about in the machine when his hand was pulled in.

Hi-Tech Steel Services pleaded guilty to two health and safety offences. The company was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,797 in costs following the court hearing last Friday.

HSE investigating inspector Christina Goddard said: “One of the factory’s employees suffered a serious injury to his left hand as a result of this incident, but it could have been much worse.

“He was lucky not to have lost part of his hand, or to have suffered permanent damage to the nerves, blood vessels or tendons.