Compensation news
18/01/2011

Accident at work after infra red sensor turned off

A man working in a factory in Manchester suffered severe personal injury from an accident at work and could now claim compensation for his pain, suffering and loss of earnings.

Caught in a laminating machine consisting of two large rollers, the employee experienced serious friction burns which resulted in him needing skin grafts to his arms. His upper body was also badly injured, but did not require grafts.

It is not known whether the victim is taking legal action, but an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) uncovered that although the machine had been fitted with an infra red sensor, which was supposed to stop the rollers if an employee stepped too near the mechanism, this had been disabled, due to it being triggered by dust particles and constantly holding up the production line.

After admitting to breaching Health and Safety at Work Regulations by switching off the safety device, the firm paid £4,389 in legal costs and was fined £27,500.

The company has since installed a pressure mat, which will turn the machine off when stepped on and should reduce the possibility of an accident at work occurring, by making sure that an individual near the laminator cannot become caught in the rollers.