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Autumn/Winter 2021 35 www.hae.org.uk www.eha.org.uk T wo sister companies based in Grantham, Lincolnshire that manufacture cardboard items, and a company that manufactures flat-bed die cutting (FBDC) machines have all been sentenced after a worker sustained serious injuries to his left hand. Lincolnshire Magistrates’ Court heard that Postpack Limited and Damasco UK Limited of Hollis Road Grantham, manufacture cardboard items including packaging materials, flat pack boxes and toys. They purchased five FBDC machines from DIG Corrugated Machinery Ltd of Cullen Place, Eastlands Industrial Estate, Leiston. A worker using one of the supplied machines caught his hand under the rotating main roller and the fingers and thumb of his left hand were crushed, leading to their amputation. An investigation carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the machine was supplied with inadequate guards to prevent access to its dangerous parts. Following the incident and service of Improvement Notices the guards were extended. Postpack Limited and Damasco UK Limited pleaded guilty to contravening Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 The companies were fined £4000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,152 with a victim surcharge of £340. DIG Corrugated Machinery Limited pleaded guilty to breaching the duty under Section 6(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 The company was fined £6500 and ordered to pay costs of £3529.20 with a victim surcharge of £170. COMPANIES FINED FOR INADEQUATE GUARDS ON MACHINERY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FINED AFTER THREE CONTRACTORS FELL FROM HEIGHT A construction company has been fined following an incident where three contractors fell from height suffering serious injuries. North Somerset Magistrates’ Court heard how, three bricklayers fell approximately 2.5 metres onto a concrete floor sustaining serious injuries ranging from a broken back, a broken sternum to a swollen knee. The three workers fell through a temporary stairwell cover, which gave way underneath them because it had not been correctly fitted. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that St Modwen Homes Limited did not have a robust system in place to ensure that the temporary stairwell cover was identified as a temporary working platform and treated as such. It failed to coordinate matters relating to the safe use of the temporary platform and it failed to plan, manage and monitor the installation, inspection, maintenance and use of the temporary working platform. St Modwen Homes Limited of Park Point, High Street, Longbridge, Birmingham pleaded guilty to breaching the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, contravening Regulation 13(1). The company has been fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £13,332. >>