Machine Manufacturer Fined After Employee Loses Finger in Lathe Incident

HSE found failings in risk assessment and safe systems of work 

The HSE investigation found that Carter Brothers had failed to adequately assess the risks to employees carrying out polishing work using emery cloths and had failed to ensure there was a safe system of work in place. 

HSE guidance is clear that emery cloth should never be applied directly by hand on a rotating lathe. Where machinery is involved, employers must think carefully about how tasks are carried out, what training and instructions employees have been given, and whether safer methods or equipment should be used. 

The case is a reminder that machinery accidents can happen in seconds, but the consequences can last for the rest of a worker’s life.

Why machinery accidents at work can be so serious 

Factory and manufacturing work often involves machinery with moving parts, cutting tools, rotating equipment and powered systems. If machinery is not properly guarded or workers are not given suitable training, the risk of serious injury can be high. 

Injuries involving machinery can include: 

• Amputations 
• Crushed fingers or hands 
• Broken bones 
• Severe cuts and lacerations 
• Nerve damage 
• Loss of grip or dexterity 
• Scarring 
• Psychological trauma 
• Loss of ability to return to the same work 

In this case, the employee was reportedly unable to return to his profession as a turner. That type of outcome can have a major financial and emotional impact, especially where a worker has spent years building up a skilled trade or career. 

Employer duties around workplace machinery 

Employers have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to protect employees from injury at work. In machinery environments, this may include carrying out suitable risk assessments, providing safe systems of work, maintaining equipment, using proper guards or controls, and giving employees appropriate training and supervision. 

Where a task involves a known risk, such as working near moving or rotating machinery, employers should consider whether the work can be done in a safer way. They should also make sure employees understand what they must not do and why certain methods are unsafe. 

An accident at work may give rise to a claim where an injury was caused by unsafe practices, inadequate training, faulty or poorly maintained equipment, a lack of supervision, or a failure to follow health and safety guidance. 

Can you claim compensation after a machinery accident at work? 

If you have been injured in a machinery accident at work, you may be able to make an accident at work claim if your employer failed to take reasonable steps to keep you safe. 

A claim may be possible where, for example: 

• The machinery was not properly guarded 
• The task had not been properly risk assessed 
• You were not given suitable training 
• You were told to use an unsafe method of work 
• Equipment was faulty or poorly maintained 
• There was no proper supervision 
• Previous concerns or near misses had been ignored 

Compensation can reflect the injury itself, as well as the wider impact - this may include pain and suffering, loss of earnings, future loss of earnings, medical treatment, rehabilitation, care and support needs, travel costs, and the effect of the injury on your ability to work or carry out everyday tasks. 

Every case depends on its own facts, and making a claim does not guarantee compensation. However, if your injury was caused by unsafe working practices or an employer’s failure to protect you, it may be worth getting advice. 

What should you do after an accident at work?  

If you have been injured at work, it is important to seek medical attention and make sure the accident has been recorded. You should also keep copies of any accident book entry, photographs, witness details, medical notes, correspondence with your employer and evidence of lost earnings or expenses. 

If the accident involved machinery, it may also be useful to keep details of the equipment involved, the task you were carrying out, the training you had received, and whether any concerns had previously been raised about the process. 

Many people worry about making a claim against their employer. However, employers are required to have insurance in place for workplace injury claims. A specialist solicitor can explain your options and help you understand whether you may have a claim.

Premier Legal Assist can help  

If you have been injured in a machinery accident at work, you don’t have to face the consequences alone. If your case is eligible, with our help, you can seek compensation for the impact the injury has had on your health, work and day-to-day life. 

Premier Legal Assist can connect you with a team of specialist personal injury lawyers who handle accident at work claims on a no-win, no-fee basis. In most cases, an adult has three years from the date of the accident to begin a personal injury claim. If the injured person was under 18 at the time of the accident, the usual three-year period generally starts on their 18th birthday. 

To find out if you are eligible to make a no-win, no-fee claim, complete our short form, and a team member will be in touch.