Company fined after apprentice injured

Manufacturing company, Amber Industries Limited, has been prosecuted following an incident that led to life-changing injuries for an apprentice.

In November 2018, a 17 year old apprentice employed by the company for 18 months, was reaming work pieces with an unguarded pillar drill when the gloves he was wearing became entangled in the drill bit, severing three fingers on his right hand.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out a full investigation into the incident and found:

• there were no guards in place to prevent access to rotating parts of the machinery;
• the company had failed to provide suitable information, instruction and training to the apprentice - this included clear instructions not to wear gloves for this task;
• failures to provide adequate supervision and monitoring.

Manchester Magistrates' Court found the company guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, fining them £52,500 along with costs of £14,442.

HSE inspector Jane Carroll said: "This injury was easily preventable, and the risk should have been identified. Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery."