Why was Askern UK Limited fined over £30,000?

Askern UK Limited was fined over £30,000 after an employee lost two fingers while cleaning a printing machine, due to the company's failure to provide adequate training and maintain safety devices.

What safety failures led to the employee's injury?

The employee's injury was caused by the company's failure to ensure adequate machine maintenance and provide proper training on safety devices, allowing access to dangerous parts.

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Fingers Lost: Firm Fined £30K for Safety Failures

Q: When did the incident involving the printing machine occur?

The incident where an employee partially severed two fingers while cleaning a printing machine occurred in March 2024.

5 Feb

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Summary

Employee lost two fingers cleaning printing machine in March 2024.
Firm failed to provide adequate training and maintain safety devices.
Company fined over £30,000 for health and safety breaches.

Fingers Lost: Firm Fined £30K for Safety Failures

A manufacturing company, Askern UK Limited, has been fined £24,395 plus a £2,000 victim surcharge and £5,000 in costs, totaling over £30,000. This penalty follows an incident in March 2024 where an employee partially severed two fingers while cleaning a printing machine at their South Kirkby site.

The incident occurred because the 57-year-old employee could access dangerous parts of the machine too easily. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the company had failed to adequately maintain the machine and provide suitable training regarding its safety devices. A spokesperson stated that proper training and a functioning interlock system would have prevented the injury.

Askern UK Limited pleaded guilty to a health and safety breach at Leeds Magistrates' Court. The HSE inspector highlighted multiple failures by the company, emphasizing that the employee was tasked with cleaning without sufficient instruction or awareness of safety mechanisms.