Food packaging plant accident severs fingers

06-Jun-2016 - Last updated on 09-Mar-2022 at 10:46 GMT

A RMP employee lost two fingers due to safety failings, ruled the HSE

A London-based food packaging company has been fined £7,000 for safety failings, after an employee lost two fingers in an accident.

The employee of Roberts Metal Packaging (RMP) suffered severe damage to his left hand after it was trapped under the punch of a mechanical power press.

Westminster Magistrates Court was told a investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed the firm had failed to prevent access to this dangerous part of the machine.

RMP pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulation (PUWER) 1998 – see box for more information – and was fined £7,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,520.

RMP pleaded guilty

Founded in 1887, the company makes pre-threaded metal caps, aluminium and tinplate jars and containers for food, healthcare and cosmetics companies worldwide.

Meanwhile, at least three other food packaging manufacturers have been fined for safety failings.

Earlier this year (April 20) packaging firm Selig was fined for £240,000 after an employee was seriously injured when his arm was caught in a laminating machine in October 2015.

The HSE ruled that Selig had failed to conduct a suitable risk assessment for the laminating machine. Selig had also not implemented adequate measures to prevent access to dangerous moving parts.

Gas canister exploded

Last October, food and drink packaging firm Encirc was fined after a gas canister exploded at its Ash Road site in Elton, Chester on May 2014 left two workers with burns on their face and heads.

Reulation 11(1) PUWER 1998

Regulation 11(1) requires employers to take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery or stop their movement before any part of a person enters a danger zone.

Encirc was ordered to pay an £18,000 fine after an HSE investigation found no risk assessment had been carried out and no instruction for the proper use of flammable aerosols had been given to workers.

In March 2015, Wiltshire bakery firm Haydens Bakery, part of the Real Good Food Company, was fined £40,000 on for safety failings, after one of its workers was injured by a bowl mixer.

The man caught his wedding ring on an unguarded attachment of the rotating shaft on a powered bowl mixer on March 3 2015.