Tata Steel fined £1.9m for double safety failing
27 Jul 2016
Tata Steel has been fined a total of £1.98 million for safety failings after two if its employees suffered injuries to the arms and hands.
In the first incident, which occurred on 12 September 2014, a 26-year-old man 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, Northampton Crown Court was told.
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
HSE inspector Mark Austin
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which investigated the incident, the injury was caused because the steel tube manufacturing line had unsuitable guarding.
The second incident, which occured on 19 February 2015, involved a 52-year-old man. That incident was also caused by a machine with inadequate guarding, the Court heard.
The man lost part of his little finger on his left hand while he was receiving refresher training, HSE said.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Mark Austin 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 Steel pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £185,000 was for the first offence and £1.8m for the second offence. It was also ordered to pay costs of £22,500.
