Prosecutions

A Preston engineering firm has been fined after a worker was killed when he became entangled in machinery.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation detailed how the employee was found dead after becoming trapped in a lathe at the company’s site in Preston on 10 January 2009.

The 45-year-old was discovered by two colleagues in a small building next to the main workshop, where he had been working alone. He had worked at the firm for 28 years.

Preston Crown Court heard the employee was killed when he became entangled on a one-metre-long metal screw, while cutting its thread on a lathe. The screw was rotating approximately 200 times every minute.

The company was prosecuted by HSE for failing to ensure the employees safety, and for failing to assess the risks workers faced while operating lathes

The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Regulation 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

The company was fined £17,500 and ordered to pay £12,251 costs at Preston Crown Court on 24 September

The investigating inspector from the HSE said:

"It is extremely sad that the employee needlessly lost his life after nearly three decades working for the same company.

"The risk of entanglement on lathes is well known in the engineering industry, which is why trained machine operators are required to wear suitable clothing. Those with long hair should be told to have it securely fastened and out of harm's way.

"The company was unable to demonstrate it had assessed the risks faced by employees working alone on the lathe. It should have made sure all workers wore suitable clothing while operating the lathe. If they had taken this action then the employee might still be alive today."