According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Michael Taylor, 29, of Wellingborough, suffered serious injuries when his right hand and forearm were drawn into gluing rollers of the machine. Taylor has had four operations and extensive physiotherapy but it is unlikely he will ever regain full movement in his hand.
The incident, on 20 January 2012, at The Paper Pallet Company was investigated by the HSE which today prosecuted the company at Wellingborough Magistrates' Court.
The court heard that The Paper Pallet Company, which uses recycled paper to make pallets, failed to ensure a honeycomb laminating machine was guarded and that staff were adequately trained and supervised in order to use it safely.
HSE found several failings. According to HSE, Taylor was inadequately supervised and the machinery was unguarded at several points, not just where the incident occurred. The guarding over the gears and chains allowed access to dangerous moving parts, and some of the emergency stops did not work properly.
In addition the company had not carried out a risk assessment on the machine. This meant there was no safe system of work for cleaning the gluing rollers or for the operation, use and maintenance of the line.
Following the incident, the company introduced a light guard system, which shuts down the line if anyone breaks the beam to approach dangerous moving parts.
The Paper Pallet Company, Sinclair Drive, Wellingborough, pleaded guilty to breaching section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £10,877 costs.
"A very serious case"
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Elizabeth Hornsby said:"This is a very serious case of a company neglecting its duty to supervise and protect its employees from potentially dangerous machinery.
"Basic risk assessments weren't carried out and Mr Taylor was not given suitable instruction in how to use the machine safely. Even his supervisor had not been given appropriate health and safety training to allow him to discharge his responsibilities adequately.
"The Paper Pallet Company has now introduced measures that will cut the power to the machinery if anyone approaches dangerous moving parts. It's just a shame this did not happen before Mr Taylor suffered such severe injuries."
Taylor added: "The physical scars I have, both on my hand and from skin grafts, mean I'll be reminded of this accident everyday for the rest of my life."
As PN published this story this morning (26 June), no spokesperson from The Paper Pallet Company was available for comment.
