Diecasting firm fined after worker suffers serious burns

Manchester Crown Court heard that on 7 July 2015 the worker had entered the middle of the aluminium diecasting machine between the furnace pot and the front bar to clear a build up of metal. Whilst carrying out this routine procedure the robot arm started to move, the worker tried to move out of the way but was trapped by the ladle containing 400 degrees centigrade molten metal attached to the robot arm. He suffered a cardiac arrest and fourth degree burns.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the machine had only been partially guarded making access to the ladle possible. This was despite there being a risk assessment in place at the time of the incident identifying the hazard of contact or entrapment with the ladle.

Presbar Diecasting Ltd of Store Street, Manchester pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

The company was fined £140,000 and ordered to pay £9,788.56 costs and £120 victim surcharge.

Speaking after the hearing HSE Principal Inspector Mike Sebastian said: “A man suffered life changing injuries which could have been prevented if the machine had been properly guarded. Employers should ensure that they regularly check, assess and review the guarding on their machinery to ensure that all access to dangerous parts in prevented.”

For more information and guidance on workplace equipment go to: www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-machinery/puwer.htm