Company fined after worker loses hand

Eglinton (Timber Products) Limited was fined £8,000, plus costs of £1,500, at Derry Crown Court on 3rd June after previously pleading guilty to a breach of health and safety legislation. 

The case arose following an incident on 25 July 2013 at the company’s premises in Eglinton, Co Derry.  A 22 year old man became trapped after coming into contact with a rotating cog mechanism of a timber processing machine as he was attempting to adjust the position of the cog.  As a result his hand was instantly amputated by the machine parts.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) found that the employee had started work at the company seven weeks before the incident and had not received sufficient instruction and training in the maintenance and operation of the machine.  It also identified that the company did not always follow systems of work to ensure the safe maintenance of machines.

After the hearing, Kevin Campbell, an inspector within HSENI’s Major Investigation Team said:

“All companies must identify and address hazards within the workplace.  Where maintenance is to take place, appropriate measures should be taken to prevent access to dangerous moving parts of machines.  Companies must also ensure that all new staff are properly trained, and supervised, particularly when it comes to working with potentially dangerous machinery.”

For more information on the dangers of poorly planned maintenance visit HSENI’s campaign here: http://www.hseni.gov.uk/safemaintenance