The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have fined a County Durham company after a worker suffered serious burns to his face, arm and hand.
The worker, John Calcutt, was helping two other colleagues clear a blockage when he was hit in the face and left hand with a "jet" of hot, molten plastic. None of the workers involved were wearing protective masks or eye-wear and had not been trained for clearing blockages from the machines.
The company, Ebac Ltd. were fined £7,500, ordered to pay £770.10 in costs and a £750 Victim Surcharge after they pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
HSE Inspector Victoria Wise, said: "This incident could have been easily prevented if Ebac Ltd. had a safe system of work in place for dealing with blockages...Instead, the firm's failures mean a worker has suffered serious injuries."
