Worker Benjamin Tracey was attempting to clear a blockage in a newly installed form, fill and seal machine at a food manufacturer's in Halstead, Essex, when its heated jaws closed on his left index finger and a knife mechanism fired into his finger, badly crushing and slicing the bone and soft tissue.
In a statement to Packaging News, Derby-based Line Equipment said that it learnt a valuable lesson from the experience. Managing director John Blashkiw said: "As a UK manufacturer of VFFS machines we always endeavour to ensure that our equipment meets the requirements of the machinery directive.
"Although we were disappointed to be found guilty of an infringement of this regulation we have learnt a valuable lesson from the experience-no matter what the customer requests, safety must come first.
"It would be beneficial if the Health and Safety Executive) could be more proactive in order to help manufactures build equipment that complies with current legislation and substandard equipment from entering the market.
"I believe that, following this experience, Line Equipment is now one of the VFFS manufacturers who comply in full with the machinery directive."
Background
The incident, on 8 June 2012, was investigated by the HSE, which prosecuted the machine's manufacturer and supplier for safety failings. Line Equipment was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £1,330.20 costs after pleading guilty to breaching regulation 7(2)(a) of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008.
Last month, Chelmsford Magistrates' Court heard that Tracey had encountered problems with plastic bags sticking to the machine's heated jaws. He put his arm in to attempt to pull the bags free and when this didn't work he stopped the machine, which halted the cycle but did not completely deactivate the machine. As he reached through the heated jaws the incident occurred.
Tracey suffered a fracture to his bone, crush injuries and major cuts to his finger. Subsequent surgery saved him from having to have the top of his finger amputated. Some healing has subsequently taken place.
An HSE investigation found the machine had not been fitted with a suitable guard to prevent access being gained to moving parts. The safety standard for the machine clearly identifies the risks from the heated jaws and requires any opening bigger than 12cm to be protected by a guard, restricting the reach distance to dangerous parts. In this case the openings on all four machines supplied by the company exceeded 30cm and none had been supplied with a guard fitted.
After the case, HSE Inspector Paul Grover, said:"This was a common, entirely foreseeable and preventable incident on this type of machine.
"The safety standards for these types of machines are widely understood and their importance in safeguarding what can otherwise be a hazardous form of machinery was well known to Line Equipment.
"Had the company met its duties, it would not have been possible for the employee to have accessed moving parts of machinery in this way and seriously injure himself as a result."
