An automotive components company from West Midlands has been fined for safety failings after an employee suffered crush injuries after entering a guarded area of a machine.

Nuneaton Magistrates’ Court heard how on 30 September 2014 an employee of International Automotive Components Limited of Coleshill was maintaining a carpet forming machine. The employee had only been in the job for two weeks after being promoted from operator to tool changer.

While under supervision, the employee became trapped when the top hood of the carpet heating press descended on him while he was working.

International Automotive Components Company Limited, of Gorsey Lane, Coleshill, West Midlands was fined a total of £7,000, and ordered to pay £2,190 in costs after pleading guilty to an offence under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector John Glynn said: “It is no exaggeration to say the employee has been extremely fortunate to escape death in this incident.”

For more information about machinery safety log onto the website at

http://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/machinery/safety.htm^[1] 

Notes to Editors: 

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk^[2]
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/ ^[3]
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk