Tata
Steel has been fined £1.98 million after two workers at its Corby plant
suffered serious hand injuries.
A 26-year-old employee lost two-thirds of his left hand, and his
middle and ring fingers, while trying to clear a blockage on a steel tube
manufacturing line with unsuitable guarding, Northampton Crown Court heard. In
a separate incident, a 52-year-old team leader lost part of his little finger
after his left hand was caught during refresher training, again in an
inadequately guarded machine.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found
that inappropriate steps were taken to guard users from dangerous parts of the
machinery involved in the incidents, which happened in September 2014 and
February 2015 respectively.
Mark Austin, an inspector at the HSE, said: “Guarding of
dangerous parts of machinery is a fundamental of ensuring workers’ safety. HSE
will not hesitate to hold those accountable who do not fulfil their legal
obligations, especially if that results in someone receiving life-changing
injuries.”
Tata UK Limited pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was
fined a total of £1.98 million (£185,000 for the first incident, plus £1.8m for
the second) and ordered to pay costs totaling £22,500.
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