Machinery firm fined for health and safety
breaches
Fines have been levied against a North Yorkshire-based machinery
firm after it was revealed that the firm had failed to protect its
workers from the risk of injury.
Lambert Engineering, which is located at Station Estate in
Tadcaster, employs 115 people. It was investigated by inspectors
from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on a routine visit in
May of last year. The inspectors discovered that many of the
protective guards that should have been in place on factory floor
machines had either been removed or disabled.
The HSE inspectors also uncovered an 'endemic weakness' in
safety management systems at the firm - which specialises in
manufacturing safety equipment - with the key failings being in
risk assessments and a lack of control and supervision of
workers.
Geoff Fletcher, HSE inspector, said, “The company failed to
ensure that their machines and specifically the safeguarding
mechanism were maintained effectively, allowing dangerous practices
to develop and remain unchecked over some ten years.
“I trust they will endeavour in future to focus equally on
ensuring their own safety guards are used as the manufacturers
intended and in line with legal requirements,” he added.
Following the findings, the firm was prosecuted at Selby
Magistrates Court and pleased guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of
the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It was fined £6,000 along
with costs of £4,198.