Tyre manufacturer Pirelli Tyres has been prosecuted and fined after a 17 year old mechanical maintenance apprentice suffered serious hand injuries.
The teenager was using emery cloth on a metalwork lathe at the company’s site in Burton on Trent. The cloth snagged and pulled the teenager into the lathe causing several breaks to his fingers and wrist and partially severed one finger. Following the incident he has undergone three operations and had metal pins fitted. His partially severed finger may still need to be amputated.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found there were very few control measures in place to prevent this incident and no risk assessment was in place for this activity. The investigation also found the training of apprentices on this matter was insufficient.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act, 1974 and section 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and were fined a total of £28,000. The company was also ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge.
