Companies Fined After Worker Loses Fingertips

In 2004, James Adams and a colleague, both engineers employed by RCP Macpress, a leading supplier of recycling and waste management equipment, were working at SCA Recycling in Greenwich, London repairing a water paper recycling machine. Mr Adams lost the tips of his right ring finger and little finger when an access panel to the machine closed suddenly.

HSE inspectors who investigated the case found that, while the two engineers had filled out a risk assessment form before starting the job, they had been inadequately instructed in how to actually assess the risks involved.

By failing to provide a detailed methodology for how work should be undertaken on the shredder, RCP Macpress were found to have violated Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 which states that "it shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."

By failed to ensure that employees who had been issued permit-to-work documents were properly trained, SCA Recycling were found to have violated Section 3(1) of the same act which states that "it shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety."

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