Prosecutions

A worker at a Caerphilly company suffered serious injuries after his fingers were severed in an unguarded machine, a court has heard.

The engineering company was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after the incident in which a machinist lost four fingers and the top of his thumb. He was working on a machine used to mill titanium plates when the incident happened. Three fingers were reattached by surgeons but his injuries remain severe, and he is continuing to receive treatment.

At Caerphilly Magistrates' Court, the company pleaded guilty to a charge under the Regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £8,000 with £2,000 costs.

A HSE inspector said:

"The injuries were horrific and unnecessary - the incident could have easily been prevented had the machine been properly guarded.

"Employers have a legal duty to ensure that when employees are working with machinery, adequate guarding is provided to prevent workers being injured.

"The use of powerful engineering machinery was a day to day activity of this company, so it is inexcusable that an injury like this has been allowed to happen."