Engineering company fined after apprentice injury

A Staffordshire engineering company has been fined after an apprentice suffered serious hand injuries after being drawn into machinery.

Last March, the 19-year-old apprentice, working at Air Management & Design in Newcastle under Lyme, was forming a piece of sheet metal into a radius using a three-roll bending machine. He was wearing gloves when his hand was drawn in by the in-running nip between two steel rollers.

As a result, the apprentice had two fingers severed and also suffered crush injuries to his right hand.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that a safe system of work, adequate training and effective supervision were lacking. The use of gloves increased the likelihood of being drawn in to the dangerous parts of the machine.

Air Management & Design was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,301.20.

HSE inspector Wendy Campbell said: “A young man’s life has been changed because his employer failed to ensure adequate training in and supervision of a safe system of work for the use of a powered three roll bending machine.

“This is a reminder to all companies to check that fully fingered gloves are not worn, and safe systems of work are in place and being followed for operation of dangerous machinery such as three-roll bending machines.”

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