Valmet fined £130,000 over worker’s pulping machine injury
19 Nov 2016
Valmet, which supplies automation and technology equipment to the pulp, paper and energy industries, has been fined almost £130,000 after an employee at a Manchester paper mill fell into a pulping machine.
The worker fell seven metres and suffered fractures to his left foot in the incident that occurred on 9 July 2014, Manchester Crown Court heard earlier this week (17 November).
Having fallen into the pulping machine, the man managed to swim, in darkness, to a ledge at the side of the pulper and call for assistance, said the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which investigated the incident.
Speaking after the court hearing, HSE Inspector Adam McMahon said: “It was pure luck that the pulper blades were not working or that the injured person did not drown.
“A supervisor had to carry out numerous risk assessments on the day of the incident, along with covering others’ duties. The hazard of working at height was not identified and as such a worker was exposed to a serious risk which could have resulted in death.”
Valmet pleaded guilty to breaches of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £120,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,591.
