Boy crushes his hand cleaning a printing machine

A 16-year-old boy suffered a broken finger and two crushed fingers in an accident at work  - 6th February 2009

 

A 16-year-old boy received hand injuries in an accident at work whilst cleaning a printing machine.

The boy was employed to break out and fold cardboard boxes in the East Lancashire Box Company's factory at Rishton. He was also required to assist with general tasks including cleaning if he finished.

He received his injuries at work when he was required to clean a printing machine. He was cleaning a slow moving roller with a cloth which he had wrapped around his hand when the workplace accident happened. The cloth got caught in the top roller causing his hand to be dragged into the machine, which resulted in him receiving a broken finger and two others being crushed.

The company was found to have inadequate health and safety measures, with no risk assessments having been carried out on its machines, or safe operating procedures provided.

His employers pleaded guilty to three breaches of health and safety regulations at Hyndburn Magistrates court, and were fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £3,451 in costs.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Inspector said: "This accident highlights the dangers associated with cleaning and maintaining printing machines. It is vital that companies develop a safe system of work for these operations."