Machine guard failings lead to serious hand injury 28 January 2014

Chevler was fined £8,000 and plus £5,843 costs yesterday (27 January 2014), following an accident in which an employee's hand was drawn into a two centimetre gap between two counter-rotating drive rollers on a printing machine.

The incident, at the Hengoed-based firm's food packaging plant on 30 August 2012, was investigated by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) and the company charged with serious safety breaches.

Cwmbran Magistrates' Court heard that the printing machine was unguarded, allowing workers to get too close to dangerous moving parts.

In particular, despite Chevler having known for 18 months that a safe isolation procedure was required for cleaning the machine, none had been implemented.

Magistrates were told the 55 year-old experienced worker was injured when he tried to clean the printer after he noticed that product was developing streaks. As he tried to clean dried ink from the rollers, his hand was drawn into the gap.

He needed two operations on his severely injured hand and has since suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

"This was a completely needless and entirely preventable incident that left an employee with painful injuries and a long-term disability," comments HSE inspector Gethyn Jones.

"The provision of safe systems of work, especially when maintaining or cleaning dangerous machinery, is fundamental... By failing in their duties in this way, Chevler exposed their workers to the risk of injury."

Brian Tinham

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Health & Safety Executive

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