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John Radcliffe, an Inspector with the Health and Safety Executive, while commenting on a recent accident in an Inverurie paper mill, stated that the accident could have been avoided had the employer taken due care to ensure adequate safety measures were in place.

In a recent case, Aberdeen Sheriff Court asked International Paper (UK) Limited to pay a fine of £6000 to an employee who had to get his arm amputated due to an accident that occurred in January 2009.

Investigations undertaken by HSE revealed that the employee in question was operating a paper machine when a break in the paper occurred, which could be remedied only by re- feeding the paper. While attempting to throw the paper into the machine as part of the tail feeding process, the hand of the employee was sucked into the machine, thereby causing serious injuries.

HSE stated that serious fatality was avoided only because of the quick thinking of another colleague, who quickly switched off the machine, thereby limiting the employee’s injury only to the arm.

HSE, while prosecuting the company, stated that it had not taken adequate care to protect its employees from such accidents. In its statement, HSE stated that the safety barrier protecting employees from such accidents was inadequate and this led to the employee losing his arm.

HSE added that the safety rules and regulations governing such machines and companies were laid down in the nineteenth century and therefore the occurrence of such an accident in the twenty-first century is appalling and largely due to the apathetic attitude adopted by the employer towards safety requirements. HSE stated that the regulations clearly spelled out the different types of accidents that can occur with such machines.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations require all employers to carry out an assessment of risk by a competent person, IOSH Working Safely to ensure your organisation meets its basic commitments to providing a safe work environment for your staff.