Factory worker suffers severe injuries in workplace accident

A factory worker suffered such serious injuries that he was nearly left permanently disabled after an accident at work. The 56 year-old Northwich based man was working at Amcol Minerals Europe at the time of the accident in March 2010.

The Employee was cleaning a conveyor system at the factory, which produces chemicals used in detergents and oil drilling. He had scaled a ladder in order to be able to reach the conveyor belt to check that he had cleared any residue successfully.

However, the mans arm was caught and dragged underneath the rotating mechanism, whilst reaching over to the moving belt. This crushed his hand and caused severe bruising down his left side as well as suffering a broken elbow in the accident. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out an investigation after this particular accident occurred and they found that the necessary safety guard had not been fitted to the Conveyor Belt.

Amcol Minerals Europe Ltd were fined £10,000 plus £6,702.50 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching the Provision and Use of Work Regulations 1998 at Chester magistrate’s court.

Carl Jones of the HSE said, The worker suffered severe injuries in the incident and could easily have lost his arm. These conveyor belts are extremely powerful and unforgiving.

“Amcol should have done more to make sure its employees weren’t being put at risk. The company has since fitted interlocked guarding around the dangerous parts of the conveyor belt, which automatically cuts the power if its removed,” Mr Jones added.

Francis Alexander Personal Injury Manchester is a firm of solicitors specialising in compensation claims, accident claims and conveyancing transactions.