A waste company has been fined £300,000 after one of its workers severed his arm from the elbow down.
Doctors spent six hours sewing the man’s arm back together after it was separated at Tradebe Healthcare National Limited’s site on Elgin Industrial Estate in Swindon.
An investigation by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after the incident found multiple failings by the company.
Tradebe Healthcare National Limited of Globe Park, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
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The man, who was 42 at the time, had been working his usual night shift at the Swindon site.
He had been working alongside a colleague when he attempted to clear an obstruction on an autoclave machine, when his left arm was then trapped and crushed by the door, severing it from the elbow down.
After being rushed to hospital for a life-saving operation, he has since had three major surgeries to restore the use of his hand, though he now suffers from very limited movement.
As part of his treatment, skin grafts were taken from the thigh of his left leg, as well as veins from his left and right legs, before being transplanted into the arm.
He still suffers from constant pain and struggles to complete many everyday tasks independently.
Autoclave machines tend to be used for processes where products are placed inside and subjected to greater than atmospheric pressure and elevated temperatures.
The rotoclave is a type of autoclave that rotates during operation, with the one at the Swindon site used for high temperature sterilisation of waste.
An investigation found the machine was surrounded by an enclosure which included an access gate at its rear, with the man using this unsecured entrance to walk into the enclosure to reach in to remove the debris.
However, his colleague was unable to see the employee and due to miscommunication, mistakenly resumed operation of the machine.
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The investigation by HSE found multiple failings, including “not having sufficient measures in place to prevent their employees from being at risk when clearing blockages”, “employees being exposed to risk, specifically in relation to the failure to properly isolate the machine before cleaning”.
It also found employees were “not being provided with sufficient information and instruction about how to use and how to clean the machine safely”.
Investigators also found that training provided to employees was inadequate and that employees were not suitably supervised.
After pleading guilty, the Buckinghamshire company was fined £300,000 and ordered to pay costs of £18,710.
HSE Inspector Emma Preston said: “This was a harrowing incident made more tragic by the fact that events of this kind are all-too foreseeable.
“Accidents which happen when cleaning and maintaining machinery often result in life-changing injuries, which is why companies need to make sure they have robust lock-off procedures, effective guarding, and that all sources of power are fully isolated before work begins.
“The man affected by this incident faces a long road to recovery and we hope today’s outcome provides him a measure of justice.”
This prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Chloe Ward and supported by paralegal officer Farhat Basir.
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