Employers must inspect and maintain equipment warns the HSE

The Health & Safety Executive warns employers to ensure inspection and maintenance of equipment is regularly carried out following a worker losing four fingers at work and the successful prosecution of his employers - 5th February 2008

Employers must make regular inspections and maintain their equipment to ensure that their workers are protected from unnecessary injury at work.

This warning comes after the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) successful prosecution of Severn Trent Water Ltd following a workers accident at work resulting in him losing four fingers and part of his palm.

This Workplace injury occurred on 24th May 2006 when the worker was attempting to unblock a machine which removes debris from sludge at Toton Sewage Treatment Works Nottinghamshire. He got his left hand trapped in the machine which had it's lids interlock damaged, leaving dangerous parts exposed resulting in this unnecessary accident.

At Nottingham Magistrates Court, Severn Trent Water Ltd, of Coventry Road, Birmingham, was fine £19,750 and ordered to pay £6,730 costs after pleading guilty to breaking the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 Section 2(1).

David Butler a HSE inspector said: “This was an entirely avoidable accident which resulted in a man losing four fingers. Injuries from poorly-maintained equipment remain a significant and regular problem nationwide and companies must ensure that equipment is regularly inspected and maintained so workers aren’t exposed to this kind of risk.”