Safety Signs News

University and supplier fined after man is trapped in machine

7th July 2010 | Health and Safety Signs

A prominent higher education institution and an engineering firm have both been fined after a man became trapped in a harvesting machine.

The 28-year-old man was sorting bulbs at Warwick University's horticultural research site on October 13th 2008 when his hand got stuck in between the equipment's rollers.

He was pulled into the machine up to his shoulder and suffered severe soft tissue damage to the muscles, tendons and ligaments in his right arm.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the machine had been imported and modified from its original status as a potato harvester.

Furthermore, the body noted that both the university and supplier Standen Engineering failed to prevent the man from accessing dangerous parts of the machinery with warning signs.

The company admitted to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 and was fined £800 and ordered to pay costs of £1726.71.

Warwick University pleaded guilty to beaching Regulation 11(1)(a) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £3,000, with £2,091.20 in costs.

"The machine was modified by Standen Engineering prior to supply and they failed to adequately assess the machinery's guarding," said HSE inspector Scott Wynne.

"Following the supply of the machine, the defective guarding should have been identified by the University but despite several inspections, the lack of effective guarding of the rollers remained unnoticed."

The HSE urges companies involved in the agriculture sector to use the appropriate safety signs at all times.

Posted by Nicole StevensADNFCR-2754-ID-19878609-ADNFCR

RESULTS: 4475 PRODUCTS

There are no results for this search

RESULTS: 4475 PRODUCTS

Related Articles


Add £50 for a 5% discount

Customer Feedback:

Safety Signs products and graphics © 2009-2024 Viking Signs Ltd. eCommerce website © 2009-2024 Mew Media Ltd.