Coalisland company fined after employee suffers serious head injuries

McCloskey International Ltd. was fined a total of £35,000 plus prosecution costs, for breaching health and safety regulations which led to a serious injury to one of its employees.

The young fitter (aged 24) who was injured, was working in the fabrication shed at McCloskey International Ltd’s site at 47 Moor Road, Coalisland. He was trying to bend a hardened steel plate on the Durmazlar hydraulic press brake when the steel plate snapped in two and hit him on the temple causing head and eye injuries.

Louis Burns, head of HSENI’s Major Investigation Team said, “This case highlights the dangers of using machinery. In this instance the press break was incorrectly set up for the material being bent. In addition to this, the risk assessment carried out before the job was done was insufficient. Machinery must be used as per the operating instructions and care needs to be taken to ensure a proper risk assessment is carried out before any work is undertaken. Those using machinery should be trained to recognise the potential dangers involved and know how to use the machinery safely”.

Article from HSENI website.