Arm injured in work accident

A firm has admitted safety failings which led to an employee having part of his arm amputated after it became caught in a machine.

Darren Nelson suffered serious injuries to his right arm on December 18, 2006, after it became trapped in the device which was part of a steel slitting line.

Meridian Metal Trading Limited, of Peartree Lane, Dudley was fined £20,000 with £5,824 costs at Wolverhampton Crown Court after it pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Edward Fryer said: "This machine had been newly installed following its importation from Taiwan.

"The machine was not CE marked and fell far short of the required safety standards. The law requires employers to provide safe plant and machinery and also to train employees in how to use equipment safely; Meridian Metal Trading Limited had failed in its duty to do this.

"The legal requirements relating to the provision and use of work equipment are well known and have been in place for many years.

"In this case the machine was unsafe and an employee sustained a serious and life-changing injury; an injury that could have been prevented if the relevant health and safety standards had been applied."

David Urpeth Head of the Work Injuries team at Irwin Mitchell said "This sad case demonstrates the tragic results that can result when employers fail to provide a safe place of work for employees."