Rotherham Metal Fabrication Company Fined After Apprentice Injured By Unguarded Guillotine

Brief Summary

A metal fabrication company was fined after a 17 year old apprentice was injured during apprenticeship training by dangerous parts of a metal cutting guillotine. The HSE investigation found the machine was not effectively guarded and a gap in the bed allowed access, and the company failed to identify this risk even after the incident. Further workshop shortcomings were also found, leading to additional enforcement action.

What Was The Incident?

On 8 November 2024, a 17 year old apprentice at MTL Advanced Ltd was using a metal cutting guillotine in a dedicated Apprentice Training Workshop as part of apprenticeship practice. After several successful cuts, the final cut caused the apprentice thumb to come into contact with the machine clamps, resulting in a crush injury.

What Was The Outcome?

The company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. It was fined £140,000, ordered to pay full costs of £5,013, and a Victim Surcharge of £2,000 was imposed at Sheffield Magistrates Court. HSE also served a Prohibition Notice remotely and later identified further issues with the guillotine requiring immediate remedy.

What Lessons Can Be Learnt?

Guard dangerous machinery effectively. Where machinery has moving parts that can cause injury, guarding must prevent access to dangerous areas, including any gaps that could expose clamps or other hazardous components.

Treat identified risks as urgent and re check them. The company failed to identify the access risk even after the injury had occurred. Duty holders should review and verify controls after incidents rather than relying on what was previously thought to be safe.

Give extra protection to apprentices and young people. HSE guidance highlights that young people are new to the workplace and are more at risk in the first six months, so training environments need robust risk assessment and controls from the outset.

Use effective inspection and maintenance systems. HSE found deficiencies in the system of inspection for workshop equipment and additional unguarded dangerous machinery. Equipment checks should be systematic, recorded, and capable of finding issues like defective guarding.

Act quickly on immediate hazards through enforcement. A Prohibition Notice was served to control the ongoing risk, and inspectors later identified further issues requiring immediate remedy. Organisations should be prepared to address enforcement actions promptly and comprehensively.

HSE Prosecution Link