A waste management and recycling company has been fined after a worker lost most of his arm on an unguarded conveyor system at a Kent
An agency employee was attempting to clear a blockage at Pinden Quarry, in Longfield, near Dartford , when the incident occurred on December 20, 2010 .
Dartford Magistrates heard on the 17th May 2012 that a conveyor belt used to transfer waste into a sorting shed was juddering and virbrating, making sorting difficult, after a driving roller was blocked by stones.
The Latvian national, contracted to work the company, which owns the quarry, should have stopped the machine before removing the debris. Instead he removed the stones with the power still running and his left arm became trapped and was torn with extreme force.
It was ripped from his body from between his shoulder and elbow – leaving just a quarter of the limb intact. The injured person was airlifted to hospital for an emergency operation, but surgeons were unable to reattach his arm. He has been unable to return to work since.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the incident and found there was no guarding in place to prevent access to dangerous moving parts on the conveyor. The employee had also received no training on how to safely clear blockages.
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Andrew McGill said:
"This was a horrific accident that was entirely preventable had appropriate guarding been fitted, and had the employee been properly trained in how to clear a blockage.
"He knows to his cost that dangerous moving parts should be properly restricted when in operation, and isolated if access is required. However, it was the responsibility of the employer to ensure that happened – which it clearly didn't on this occasion. Safe systems of work must be of paramount importance at all times."
If it you or a member of your family has been injured in an accident at work in the past three years call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting.
There are also lawyers in hospitals that focus on health conditions and insurances for work accidents that can assist people with their rights as a patient and worker. This kind of job is somehow rewarding because they do not only save lives but they also support the rights of people from all walks of life.
ReplyDeletesolicitors in maidstone kent
Thank you for your comments.
Deletethat's totally horrific!..sad to hear about what happened to him...he should be fully compensated...he can or someone can help him for a no win no fee compensation or a conditional agreement fee. he can received a 100% compensation if the claim wins (for sure he'll win the claim). he needs to have lifetime compensation.
ReplyDeleteThat's a terrible accident. It's always sad when you hear something like this happening.
ReplyDelete