10/09/2010 - Firm prosecuted over work accident
A Haringey-based building firm has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a worker's hand was injured when it was caught in a machine at a workshop in Willesden, Brent.
The City of London Magistrates' Court heard how Rondeo Schoeman, from Tottenham, was working on a wooden handrail using a spindle moulder when he injured his hand on the machine's blades, which caught part of the handrail and pulled his hand towards the machine.
His employer Maplestead Limited of Orchard Gate, Greenford, Ealing has been fined £1,000 along with costs of £2,000, for breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The 32-year-old worker had to spend a month in hospital and undergo three operations after suffering severe damage to his left hand. The operations involved the transfer of bones from each foot to replace bones in his hand, and to graft skin from other parts of his body.
An investigation by the HSE found that poor planning had not highlighted possible hazards for making curved pieces of the handrail on the spindle moulder.
The safety body said the firm had also not provided adequate supervision and training, which could have prevented this accident.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
Related links
|
