Industry news
Seatbelt firm 'put workers at risk'
Posted Wed, 27 Jun 2012
A company that manufactures webbing for seatbelts and harnesses has been fined £5,000 after a worker suffered severe burns.
Marling Leek Limited, of Leek in Staffordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 after the incident on 2 August 2011 left the employee needing skin grafts on both arms and with permanent loss of sensation to the affected area.
Stafford Magistrates' Court heard the incident happened when Stewart Wood, a 60-year-old employee, climbed into a machine when webbing had become trapped inside its rollers and his arms became caught. Although Mr Wood had worked at the firm for 12 years he had never been given adequate training, information or written guidance about solving the common problem of removing wrap-arounds in a safe manner.
The company had failed to provide a safe system of work for the job and in so doing it had exposed its employees to risk over several years, a Health and Safety Executive investigation concluded. In addition to the fine, Marling Leek Limited was ordered to pay full costs of £5,827.
Copyright Press Association 2012