£16K fine could inspire firms to improve health and safety processes
October 1st 15:06 Health and Safety
An incident in Bedfordshire, which saw a worker sustain severe hand injuries, could encourage a number of UK businesses to adopt facilities management health and safety processes.
Flitwick-based firm Saint-Gobain Weber has been fined £16,000 after a worker lost a finger and a thumb after catching their hand in a rotary valve they had attempted to cleat a blockage firm.
In addition to the fine, the firm was forced to pay court costs of £3,560 for breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Graham Tompkins, an inspector from the Health and Safety Executive, said: "Unfortunately this kind of horrific injury is all too common. This case would not have happened if a suitable system of work had been used, including power isolation arrangements and safety guards that were not so easily bypassed.
"Employers have a legal obligation to protect the safety of their workers and help prevent serious injuries like this occurring."
