The penalties of not carrying out risk assessments or not having correct insurance.

A Stourbridge engineering firm has been fined after an employee lost his thumb when it was crushed during a lifting operation.

The employee, a 55-year-old mechanical engineer at the firm, was using a rope sling attached to a crane to lift a half-ton angle plate when the sling snapped.

The thumb on his right hand was crushed by the falling steel plate and had to be amputated.

The firm was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), following the incident at its factory in Lye, on 30 June 2010.

Dudley Magistrates’ Court heard that the employee now has difficulty carrying out everyday activities such as holding a pen, cutlery and tools and getting dressed. He has returned to work but has to do everything left-handed or ask colleagues for help.

He requires a further operation later this year to remove a number of pins from his hand.

The HSE investigation found the worker had been using the sling for several years without it being thoroughly examined and with no indication of its safe working load. The company had also not undertaken any risk assessments for work at the factory.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £7,500 and ordered to pay £3,321 costs.

HSE inspector Angela Gallagher said:

“This was a preventable incident that has left a man permanently disabled.”

“It highlights the importance of properly managing health and safety in general, and in particular ensuring the risks from lifting heavy items are understood.”

“The firm did not have a health and safety system to monitor the use of lifting equipment or to ensure all the equipment was thoroughly examined. Furthermore, the company had not carried out any risk assessments for work at its factory.”

“All companies must ensure they manage risks in the workplace properly. It is unacceptable to rely simply on the experience of their employees.”

Source: Health and Safety Executive.

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