Work accident sees aerospace firm fined

An aerospace firm has been prosecuted following an incident in which an employee suffered a work injury.

Meggitt Aerospace Ltd of Christchurch, Dorset, admitted that it had breached Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

As a result, Loughborough magistrates instructed the firm to pay £6,758 of full costs and a £14,000 fine.

The charges related to an incident on May 10th 2010 when a worker, who has not been named, had one of their hands crushed by a cooling press at the company's site in Shepshed.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Dr Richenda Dixon issued accident advice, saying: "The incident was completely preventable. Reaching into the danger zone between powered platens is inherently unsafe and there is foreseeable risk of crush injuries to the hand or arm."

Injuries to workers hands, arms and faces at a plant in Wisbech also led to Nestle Purina being fined £50,000 last month.

Published by Hannah Carr.