Multinational
brick manufacturer Wienerberger has been fined after a worker suffered serious
injuries when he was crushed on a conveyor belt at its Worcestershire factory.
The Health
and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the firm following the incident on 19
October 2009 at the company's site at Hartlebury, near Kidderminster.
Kidderminster
Magistrates' Court heard how the 48-year-old man, who does not want to be
named, was rectifying a fault which had stopped a brick packaging line from
moving.
He entered
the safety zone around the line, which was protected by a perimeter fence with
interlocked access gates, and climbed up onto the conveyor belt to fix the
problem. However, the line suddenly restarted, activating a pallet lifter which
came down and crushed him.
He suffered
a serious puncture wound to his back, cracked several ribs and sustained
extensive bruising to his face and leg. He was off work for six weeks.
HSE's
investigation found an interlock on one of the gates, which should have
isolated the machinery, had been disconnected some days before the incident to
allow a printer within the perimeter fence to be serviced.
The company
had also failed to carry out an adequate assessment of the risks arising from
working on the printer within the perimeter security fence and the controls
required.
Speaking
after the hearing, HSE inspector Chris Gregory said: "A man suffered
potentially life-changing injuries following an incident that should never have
happened.
"Deliberately
bypassed interlocking devices are a common cause of injuries in the
manufacturing sector.
Source The Construction Index
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