Breach of health and safety rules costs worker his arm

An operator at a steel firm in Dinnington, South Yorkshire lost his left arm following an accident that could have been avoided, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Roger Marshall, an employee of Hi-Tech Special Steels Ltd, was operating a machine used to straighten coils of steel when the incident occurred. In February 2014, Marshall was working on the steel coils when he noticed that the coils were uneven. He examined the machinery and could see that one of the parts had become dislodged, causing the fault in the process. While bending over the machine and attempting to replace the metal to its correct position, the clamp head of the 'ram' of the machine struck him, crushing his arm.

Officials at Rotherham Magistrates' Court heard details of the incident following an investigation by the HSE. The company pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 2.

The firm also admitted that it had not conducted a risk assessment, which could have revealed a failure in the machinery guarding. Although Marshall had been trained to use the machinery and was an experienced operator, he had not received training in the health and safety of using the machine. According to officials, adequate training and a risk assessment would have prevented the accident from occurring.