A Tyneside company must pay an £8,000 fine after a worker's hand
was badly injured when it was caught between two rotating metal
rollers.
North Tyneside Magistrates' Court was told how Gary Burke, 45,
of North Shields, lost his little finger and part of the other
fingers on his right hand after the
work accident at Formica Ltd on Coast Road, North Shields.
On 20 November 2009 Mr Burke was working on a machine which
coats paper with resin before cutting it into lengths to produce
the back of a laminated product.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that
the machine had had consistent production problems.
Mr Burke was checking for resin deposits on the feed belts with
his right hand when his glove became caught on a belt and his hand
was drawn between the two guide rollers.
Doctors were unable to save Mr Burke's little finger despite
several operations, though he hopes that they will be able to
re-construct two of his fingers to restore some function long
term.
Formica Ltd, of Silver Fox Way, Cobalt Business Park, Newcastle,
admitted breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work
etc Act 1974. As well as the fine, the company was also ordered to
pay £4741.60 in costs.