Steven Dawson, then aged 28, severed his arm at the shoulder while clearing a conveyor belt blockage. He had been working as a line supervisor for Lowmac when the incident occurred on February 8 2011.
Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard last week (October 6) how Mr Dawson had attempted to remove a metal container that had caught on the edge of the belt’s pulley.
He opened an unsecured hinged guard to access the blockage, but upon trying to remove the container his left hand and arm came into contact with the moving belt and the bottom of the pulley – resulting in the injury.
Mr Dawson was taken to hospital but doctors were unable to reattach his arm. He has been told he will need further surgery to repair nerve damage in his shoulder, and has been unable to return to work.
An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found Lowmac Alloys could have done more to prevent access to dangerous moving machinery parts. The firm had previously been served a deferred prohibition notice in 2003 by HSE for lack of guarding on another conveyor belt at the same site.
HSE inspector Mark Carroll, said: “This incident was entirely preventable. Lowmac Alloys Ltd had identified there was a high risk of crushing and trapping in the machinery, however, the company failed to provide interlocking guarding to the gate over the conveyor which would have cut power to the machinery when it was opened.”
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