Firm fined after worker's fingers severed by tool

A manufacturing firm has been ordered to pay more than £30,000 after an employee partially severed two fingers while cleaning a printing machine.

The 57-year-old woman was injured in March 2024 while using a paper towel to clean the rollers of the machine at Askern UK's site in South Kirkby, near Pontefract, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said.

The woman was able to access dangerous parts of the machine too easily and had not received suitable training to use the tool, an HSE spokesperson said.

Askern UK Limited pleaded guilty to a single health and safety breach at Leeds Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. The firm has been contacted for comment.

The HSE said their investigation also found that the company had failed to adequately maintain the machine, or provide employees with suitable training for the printer.

Shauna Halstead, HSE inspector, said the case "demonstrated multiple failures by the company in respect of the printing machine".

She said: "An employee was tasked with cleaning the printer without provision of suitable information, instruction or training, particularly in relation to the safety devices intended to protect them.

"A suitable interlock and employee training would have prevented this incident."

Askern was fined £24,395 by the court and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2,000, as well as costs of £5,000.

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