Daisy Ning Bai was told she must complete 160 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to health and safety breaches. The incident took place on 26 November 2019 at the company’s Cinderhall Works site on Sidall Top Lane.
Aftermath
The victim, Nathan Bland, was 20 years of age at the time, and lost several toes from his right foot in the incident, in which his legs were crushed inside a waste baler.
In Bland’s personal statement, he said “every day was a struggle” and that returning to work had proved to be “very difficult” due to the prosthetic leg he now has to wear.
“I can still have flashbacks,” he said. “I also struggle as my stump has issues fitting on my prosthetic leg. The incident has also affected my social life as it has given me PTSD and depression. I have had to get a support worker to help with my daily activities to help me with daily activities such as shopping and going to appointments.”
‘Dangerous moving parts’
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Bai introduced a working platform in front of the baler to make the job of filling the hopper easier for the operatives.
The introduction of the platform in front of the hopper permitted easy access to the baling chamber, including access to the dangerous moving parts of the baler itself.
Bai pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. She was given a 12-month community order and must complete 160 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £5,843 in costs.
BW Recycling Limited was not prosecuted by HSE after it was dissolved via compulsory strike off on 5 December 2023.
HSE inspector Sarah Lee commented: “A young man has had his life changed forever as a result of this incident. Companies and individuals that use balers should not install working platforms or other devices in front of the hoppers on balers as it permits access to dangerous moving parts of the baler.
“This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.”
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