A Welsh company that manufactures kitchen and toilet tissue paper has been fined £1 million after an employee was seriously injured when he was struck in the face by a crane hook.
On 5 November 2019, the man who worked for Sofidel UK Limited based in Neath, was attempting to free a paper reel, which had become stuck on the exit rails of a paper machine, by using an overhead crane.
During the operation, part of the crane contacted the spinning reel causing the crane hook to swing violently striking the man in the face. He suffered the loss of an eye, multiple fractures to the face and lost 9 teeth.
Investigating, the HSE found that Sofidel UK Limited, based at Brunel Way, Baglan Energy Park, Briton Ferry, Neath, failed to:
- Carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment to identify the hazards posed by paper reels which did not eject correctly from the machine.
- Ensure that control measures were in place and that employees were provided with information and instructions on what to do should this situation arise.
The issue was happening regularly, yet no risk assessment had been undertaken despite operators being provided with basic equipment to use in these circumstances.
At Swansea Magistrates’ Court, Sofidel UK Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They were fined £1million and ordered to pay costs of £13,446.50.
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