14/07/2010 - Firm fined after man loses fingers
A firm has been fined £8,000 after a man suffered "horrific" injuries - losing four fingers in an unguarded machine.
Machinist Rhys Davies had his fingers severed and also lost the top of his thumb when he was working on a machine used to mill titanium plates.
Following the incident, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Encon Engineering (Wales) Ltd of Bartlett Street Industrial Estate, Caerphilly.
A surgeon reattached three of 25-year-old Mr Davies' fingers, though the Cardiff man is continuing to receive treatment.
The company admitted breaching Regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 at Caerphilly Magistrates' Court. It was hit with an £8,000 fine and ordered to pay costs of £2,000.
HSE inspector Steve Curry said: "Mr Davies' injuries were horrific and unnecessary - the incident could have easily been prevented had the machine been properly guarded.
"Employers have a legal duty to ensure that when employees are working with machinery, adequate guarding is provided to prevent workers being injured.
"The use of powerful engineering machinery was a day to day activity of this company, so it is inexcusable that an injury like this has been allowed to happen."
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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