Major Electronics Company Fined After Worker Injured Cleaning Machinery

Brief Summary

A major electronics company was prosecuted after a worker was seriously injured while cleaning machinery that used a hydraulic ram. The HSE found failures in preventing risk during cleaning, providing adequate information and instruction, ensuring sufficient training, and providing suitable supervision. The case highlights the need for robust safe isolation and lock off before maintenance and cleaning.

What Was The Incident?

While working a night shift, a 42 year old employee cleaned a pellet making machine by manually raising the hydraulic ram, opening the door, and reaching into an open space with his left hand to clean the inside. As he withdrew, the door fell and activated the hydraulic ram, trapping his limb.

What Was The Outcome?

The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £340,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,145. The hearing took place at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 17 April 2026.

Key Points To Consider

Use robust isolation and lock off before any cleaning.. Ensure machinery is properly isolated from all power sources so it cannot restart during maintenance or cleaning, and follow safe isolation procedures consistently.

Provide clear information and instruction for safe cleaning.. Workers should be given sufficient information and instruction on how to use and clean the specific machine safely.

Strengthen training to make safe methods effective in practice.. Training was found to be inadequate in this case, so review competence and ensure training covers the correct safe working steps for the task.

Provide suitable supervision during cleaning and maintenance.. The HSE identified inadequate supervision, so ensure appropriate oversight to confirm safe isolation and lock off are applied before work starts.

Monitor and review systems to prevent inadvertent start up.. Put systems in place to regularly monitor and review arrangements so that inadvertent activation during cleaning cannot occur.

HSE Prosecution Link