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Mainetti UK ordered to pay £81,600 over conveyor worker's injuries | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A firm has been ordered to pay £81,600 after a worker was injured when her hair and scarf became tangled in machinery. | A firm has been ordered to pay £81,600 after a worker was injured when her hair and scarf became tangled in machinery. |
Kelly Nield, 24, from Ellesmere Port, could have been killed in the "horrific accident", Mold Crown Court was told. | Kelly Nield, 24, from Ellesmere Port, could have been killed in the "horrific accident", Mold Crown Court was told. |
She suffered neck and throat injuries, hair loss and a fractured finger, and still has disabling injuries. | She suffered neck and throat injuries, hair loss and a fractured finger, and still has disabling injuries. |
Coat hanger maker Mainetti UK admitted four health and safety charges at its plant on Deeside, Flintshire. | Coat hanger maker Mainetti UK admitted four health and safety charges at its plant on Deeside, Flintshire. |
The court heard the accident happened on agency worker Miss Nield's first day of working on a conveyor belt sorting hangers in April 2009. | The court heard the accident happened on agency worker Miss Nield's first day of working on a conveyor belt sorting hangers in April 2009. |
Prosecutor Simon Parrington said as she lent forward to rectify a blockage on the line, her scarf became entangled in an inadequately guarded cog mechanism. | Prosecutor Simon Parrington said as she lent forward to rectify a blockage on the line, her scarf became entangled in an inadequately guarded cog mechanism. |
The worker's hair then followed and as she tried to free herself, her left hand also got caught up. She suffered serious injuries to neck, throat and hair. | The worker's hair then followed and as she tried to free herself, her left hand also got caught up. She suffered serious injuries to neck, throat and hair. |
Mr Parrington described how Miss Nield, first tried to free herself and then shouted for help. Eventually, another worker ran and pushed the main "off" button some distance away. | Mr Parrington described how Miss Nield, first tried to free herself and then shouted for help. Eventually, another worker ran and pushed the main "off" button some distance away. |
Miss Nield was in hospital for three months and had a number of operations and is still left with disabilities, the court was told. | Miss Nield was in hospital for three months and had a number of operations and is still left with disabilities, the court was told. |
Mr Parrington said there was no emergency stop button on the line, Miss Nield was unable to save herself, and it could easily have been a fatality. | Mr Parrington said there was no emergency stop button on the line, Miss Nield was unable to save herself, and it could easily have been a fatality. |
Defending barrister Simon Antrobus said Mainetti's managing director and senior officials wished to publicly apologise to Miss Neild for her injuries. | Defending barrister Simon Antrobus said Mainetti's managing director and senior officials wished to publicly apologise to Miss Neild for her injuries. |
He said the company, which has a base in Scotland and was established 38 years ago, had immediately accepted full responsibility and did not seek to "pass the buck". | He said the company, which has a base in Scotland and was established 38 years ago, had immediately accepted full responsibility and did not seek to "pass the buck". |
'Accident waiting to happen' | 'Accident waiting to happen' |
It had safety procedures in place, assumed they were being followed on the factory floor and should have discovered that they were not. | It had safety procedures in place, assumed they were being followed on the factory floor and should have discovered that they were not. |
The barrister said the firm had now moved to a new factory at Greenfield from its Deeside plant, and has carried out a "root and branch" safety review. | The barrister said the firm had now moved to a new factory at Greenfield from its Deeside plant, and has carried out a "root and branch" safety review. |
Judge Niclas Parry called it "an accident waiting to happen". | Judge Niclas Parry called it "an accident waiting to happen". |
It was "a horrendous accident", he said. "The worker had suffered dreadful injuries, and it was clear that no guidance or instruction had been provided to her." | It was "a horrendous accident", he said. "The worker had suffered dreadful injuries, and it was clear that no guidance or instruction had been provided to her." |
The company was fined £60,000 with £21,600 costs. | The company was fined £60,000 with £21,600 costs. |
After the hearing, HSE Inspector David Wynne said: "These horrific, life-changing injuries sustained by Ms Nield could easily have been avoided if the right safeguarding measures had been taken by Mainetti (UK) Ltd. | After the hearing, HSE Inspector David Wynne said: "These horrific, life-changing injuries sustained by Ms Nield could easily have been avoided if the right safeguarding measures had been taken by Mainetti (UK) Ltd. |
"There are well-known risks associated with working with conveyor belts. | "There are well-known risks associated with working with conveyor belts. |
"It is vital, therefore, that the risks are fully assessed and guarding provided to prevent access to moving parts. Where appropriate, emergency stop controls should be installed in readily accessible places." | "It is vital, therefore, that the risks are fully assessed and guarding provided to prevent access to moving parts. Where appropriate, emergency stop controls should be installed in readily accessible places." |
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