Company fined for safety failings after worker injures hand on lathe

A company in Leeds, has been fined after a worker suffered injury when his hand came into contact with a lathe.

Rotherham Magistrates’ Court heard how an employee of Rotherham Group Realisations Limited was tasked with turning and polishing metal bars with no specific instructions on how this should be completed.

He was holding an emery cloth in his gloved hand around the rotating lathe when his hand came into contact with the lathe.

He sustained fractures to his right arm, wrist and hand.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 17 September 2014 found that the risk assessment for using the lathe was not suitable or sufficient.

There was no written safe system of work for polishing on the lathe.

Rotherham Group Realisations Limited (formerly known as MTL Group Limited), of Bridgewater Place, Water Lane, Leeds, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,316.