Recycling firm in court after worker loses arm

An Ayrshire recycling company, Lowmac Alloys Ltd. is due to appear in court over serious safety failings after a worker lost his arm after attempting to clear a conveyor belt blockage.

The employee, Scott Dawson, was aged 28 at the time of the incident where his arm was severed to his shoulder.

Mr Dawson was taken to hospital but doctors were unable to reattach his arm. He underwent two operations and needs further surgery to repair the nerves in his shoulder. He has been unable to return to work.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the investigation concluded that the company failed to provide: 

• interlocking guarding to stop dangerous parts moving before a worker entered the danger zones;
• effective supervision in order to prevent its employees from entering danger zones while dangerous parts were moving;
• a safe system of work to clear blockages, ensuring mains isolators were locked off to prevent electrical power being supplied to the machinery while employees were in close proximity; and
• a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of employees when exposed to dangerous parts of conveyor belt machinery.

Following the case, HSE Inspector Mark Carroll, said: “This incident was entirely preventable. Lowmac Alloys Ltd had identified there was a high risk of crushing and trapping in the machinery, however, the company failed to provide interlocking guarding to the gate over the conveyor which would have cut power to the machinery when it was opened. Had this been in place, then employees would not have been exposed to the risk from the dangerous parts of the machine. As a consequence of this breach, Mr Dawson suffered a horrific, life changing injury.”