Daniel Ali, 35, was working as a process operator at Coolrec UK Ltd, in Harvey Road, Burnt Mills Industrial Estate, Basildon, on April 4 2008 when his arm got caught in a conveyer belt. Doctors later had to amputate it.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the parent company Coolrec Group BV, of Croy 25, 5653 LC Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Coolrec Group BV was fined 60,000 and ordered to pay 22,000 costs at Basildon Magistrates’ Court yesterday after it admitted breaching Section 6(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The court heard that Mr Ali, of Laindon, was picking plastic off a recycling line which handled old computer monitors and television sets. A pulverising machine smashed the screens into smaller parts before operators removed materials from the conveyor.
Mr Ali had bent down to clear some wire from the ground when his glove became caught in an unguarded conveyor running underneath the one he was working on.
He was trapped for approximately 45 minutes until emergency services freed him, but doctors could not save his arm and it was amputated between the elbow and shoulder.
HSE Inspector Vicky Fletcher said: “This incident was completely avoidable and has left a man in the prime of his life without his right arm. Coolrec Group BV could and should have ensured the conveyor belts on the recycling line were properly guarded in order to prevent incidents as this.
“This case highlights just how important health and safety at work is. The law is there to protect the workforce and when it is not adhered to people can suffer life-changing injuries such as this one.
Coolrec UK
Coolrec UK went into administration in December 2008 as Coolrecs parent company, Van Gansewinkel Group, indicated it planned to end its activities in the UK (see letsrecycle.com story). Coolrec still operates in the Netherlands, France, Belgium and Germany.
A spokesman for Coolrec BV was this morning (March 10) unavailable for comment.
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