The case was heard at Dunfermline Sherriff Court on 30 May 2024, where W M Russell and Sons pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974.
According to the HSE, Barry Edward Pae, formerly known as Barry Edward Vaughan, was an employee of the family-run company, W M Russell and Sons, and was injured on 9 April 2021.
The HSE reported that while attempting to change the blade of a rapid granulator machine, Mr Pae lost his left index, middle and ring fingers and sustained an open fracture to his left wrist.
An investigation into the incident by the HSE found that W M Russell and Sons failed to provide “a safe system of work” when changing the cutter blades.
It said the company failed to provide sufficient information, instruction and training on how to isolate the granulator when changing the cutter blades or other maintenance work.
Safe
HSE inspector Laura Dempster said: “Those in control of work have a responsibility to provide a safe system of work for their employees and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training on that system. If a safe system of work had been in place prior to the incident, the life- changing injuries sustained by the employee could have been prevented.”
Register for free to comment