Company Fined After Fatal Head Injury From Unguarded Machinery

Brief Summary

A South Yorkshire wire company was fined after a worker died when he became entangled in unguarded moving parts of a wire drawing machine. The case highlights how failures in risk assessment, guarding, and communication of safe systems of work can lead to fatal outcomes, and the enforcement action HSE can take when standards fall below what is required.

What Was The Incident?

On 18 November 2021, an employee, died at Stanley Wire Limited’s site after becoming entangled in an unguarded wire drawing and recoiling machine known as a Gravity Block. The moving parts were exposed, and the worker was able to access them.

What Was The Outcome?

The Company pleaded guilty at an early hearing to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £140,000 and ordered to pay £6,652 in costs. Following the incident, HSE served eight Prohibition Notices.

What Lessons Can Be Learnt?

Prevent access to dangerous moving parts. Where machinery has hazardous moving elements, effective guarding should stop people entering the danger zone while it is operating.

Carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. The investigation found the company should have assessed the Gravity Block properly, then used the assessment to set control measures that match the risks on the machine.

Implement a safe system of work and make it clear. HSE identified that the company should have developed a safe system of work and communicated it clearly to the workforce, rather than relying on informal communication.

Use recognised guarding solutions. HSE said fixed closed guards, interlocks or pressure mats should have been installed to prevent operatives from entering the Gravity Block while it was rotating.

Do not rely on verbal instruction or poor training. The company could have appointed a designated competent person on site and provided formal training to operatives instead of relying on verbal instruction.

HSE Prosecution Link