£8k fine for company following workplace accident

A company has been fined £8,000 for its role in a workplace accident which left a man with severe injuries to his hand.

Newcastle-based firm Formica Ltd - which was first established in 1913 - was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following an investigation.

The organisation subsequently pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 during a case at North Tyneside Magistrates Court.

During the incident in question, Gary Burke was working on a machine which coats and cuts paper that was known by the employer to be faulty.

Mr Burke was using his right hand to check if there were any resin deposits in the belts of the tool when his glove got caught, meaning that his hand was dragged between two guide rollers.

The worker lost his little finger and part of his other digits and now does not have full use of his hand.

Posted by Craig Williams
 

25/08/2010 13:29