£300,000 fine after mill maintenance accident severs worker’s finger
ADM Milling, based at the Earlstrees Industrial Estate in Corby, has been fined over £300,000 following a serious health and safety breach that resulted in a worker losing his finger during maintenance work.
In 2023, 59-year-old David Wood was conducting maintenance on a packer closing station when the 800kg machine tipped over and trapped his left hand, leading to the amputation of his little finger. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the task was not properly risk-assessed or planned, violating the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
The company pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a total of £309,517.40 in fines and costs at Northampton Magistrates’ Court. A yellow brace has now been fitted to stabilise the machine.
An HSE spokesperson stressed that:
“Unsafe maintenance has caused many fatalities and serious injuries, either during the work or as a result of using badly maintained machines.”
Read more from the original article here.
Construction firm fined after worker’s fall from barn roof causes life-changing injuries
A construction company and its director have been fined after a 30-year-old worker, Jack Croft, fell through a barn roof in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, suffering life-altering injuries.
The October 2022 incident left Mr Croft with spinal fractures, a collapsed lung, and hearing loss. The HSE investigation found that employer Norman Iveson Steel Products failed to provide adequate fall protection. While netting was in place, it did not cover the entire work area and was installed by personnel lacking the correct skills.
The company was fined £100,000, and director Norman Iveson was fined £1,822, both admitting breaches under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
HSE Inspector Gavin Carruthers noted:
“This was a tragic incident… fully avoidable if steps were taken to address the risks.”
Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace deaths in Great Britain, reinforcing the need for employers to invest in competent planning and safety equipment.
Full details are available via the original article.
Explosives plant application sparks safety concerns in Shropshire
A company’s application to manufacture explosives in Ditton Priors, Shropshire, has raised public safety concerns from local residents and businesses.
Mosaic Laboratories has submitted a plan to manufacture shaped charge warheads, rocket motors, and other energetic materials. Although the HSE has issued a draft licence, locals have flagged risks around proximity to schools, homes, and businesses, as well as the transport of dangerous materials through the area.
Shropshire Council’s licensing and safety sub-committee is due to review the proposal this week. The case underlines the sensitive balance between industrial growth and public safety, particularly in populated areas.
See the full story via the original article here.
