A clinical waste company has been fined £300,150 after an 18-year-old worker suffered serious injuries when his foot slipped into unguarded machinery in Oldham.
Incident Details
The teenager sustained multiple fractures to his right leg while working for SRCL Limited at its site in Oldham in November 2024. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that no risk assessment was in place and the conveyor channel where his foot slipped was unguarded.
HSE Findings
The HSE stated: "An investigation found that the company had failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and failed to provide suitable guarding on the bin conveyor." The regulator emphasized that employers must take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery, typically through fixed guards or interlocked guards when routine access is needed.
Court Proceedings
SRCL Limited, based in Leeds, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. At Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, the company was fined £300,150 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £3,931.85.
Inspector's Comments
HSE Inspector Sam Eves said: "A young man at the beginning of his working life was failed by this company. This incident could have so easily been avoided by properly assessing the risks and applying the correct control measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery." He added that the HSE will take enforcement action against those falling below required standards.
The Manchester Evening News has contacted SRCL Limited for comment, but no further details have been released.
