Employee suffered serious injuries after hand became trapped beneath three-tonne machine during lifting operation.
\nHSE investigation found lifting operation had not been properly planned or carried out safely.
\nWorker later underwent surgery to amputate two damaged fingers.<\/p>\n
A machine manufacturing company in Shepshed, Leicestershire has been fined \u00a3170,000 after an employee\u2019s fingers were crushed when his hand became trapped beneath a machine during a lifting operation.<\/p>\n\n
An experienced machine tool fitter was working for Winbro Group Technologies Ltd at its manufacturing site in Shepshed on 17 January 2024 when his right hand became trapped beneath the foot of a three-tonne machine during a lifting operation involving a forklift truck.<\/p>\n
The worker\u2019s hand was underneath the machine when an unintended action caused the forklift truck\u2019s forks to drop to the floor. The machine was lifted to release his hand and, following medical treatment, two of the worker\u2019s damaged fingers were amputated in hospital.<\/p>\n
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Winbro Group Technologies Ltd had failed to ensure the lifting operation involving the forklift truck was properly planned and carried out in a safe manner.<\/p>\n
HSE guidance states that where it is not reasonably practicable to avoid people working beneath suspended loads, employers should establish safe systems of work to minimise the risk. This includes ensuring loads are properly secured. Further guidance can be found here: Planning and organising lifting operations \u2013 HSE.<\/a><\/p>\n Winbro Group Technologies Ltd, of Illuma House, Unit 1, Gelders Hall Road, Shepshed, Leicestershire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. The company was fined \u00a3170,000 and ordered to pay full prosecution costs of \u00a37,999, along with a victim surcharge of \u00a32,000, at Leicester Magistrates\u2019 Court on 12 May 2026.<\/p>\n HSE Inspector Rebecca Whiley said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cEvery year, a significant proportion of accidents, many of them serious and sometimes fatal, occur as a result of poorly planned lifting operations.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was a wholly avoidable incident caused by a lack of planning. HSE will not hesitate to take action against dutyholders who fail to do all that they should to keep people safe.\u201d<\/p>\n This HSE prosecution was brought by enforcement lawyer Neenu Bains and paralegal officer Hannah Snelling.<\/p>\n Further information:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Health and Safety Executive<\/a> (HSE) is Britain\u2019s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives. Employee suffered serious injuries after hand became trapped beneath three-tonne machine during lifting operation. HSE investigation found lifting operation had not been properly planned or carried out safely. Worker later underwent surgery to amputate two damaged fingers. A machine manufacturing company in Shepshed, Leicestershire has been fined \u00a3170,000 after an employee\u2019s fingers were crushed when…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2301"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2301"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2301\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nMore information about the legislation<\/a> referred to in this case is available.
\nFurther details on the latest HSE news releases<\/a> is available.
\nRelevant guidance can be found here: Planning and organising lifting operations \u2013 HSE.<\/a>
\nHSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.\u00a0 The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"