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Shaun O'Dwyer, 54, who lived in Redruth, Cornwall, was working at the Curver UK Ltd's factory on Cardew Industrial Estate when the incident occurred.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the company for failing to provide adequate safety measures.
Mr O'Dwyer was able to access the machine through an unguarded gap, enabling him to enter the press.
While he was inside, the machine started to operate and the plates closed crushing him at a pressure of over 1,000 tonnes.
HSE inspector Trevor Hay said this tragic incident could have been avoided if the company had observed standard industry guidance from the British Plastics Federation and the British Standards Institution.
"Conveyors should be bolted into position, or fitted with an electrical cut-off switch which removes power to the machine when the conveyor is taken away," he stated.
"Effective guarding should prevent access to dangerous machinery by workers, or an automatic system should cut off the power supply if someone is working inside."
Users of such machinery should ensure effective safeguards are in place to avoid further deaths or injuries to their workers, Mr Hay added.
Curver UK Ltd of York Gate, London, pleaded guilty to committing a breach of Regulation 11 (1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations under Section 33(1) (c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £160,000 and ordered to pay £32,000 costs.
Quantum Risk Management are a leading Health and Safety Consultancy
Worker crushed at Cornwall plastics factory
An experienced technician was killed after he was crushed between the plates on a machine used to make plastic lids.Shaun O'Dwyer, 54, who lived in Redruth, Cornwall, was working at the Curver UK Ltd's factory on Cardew Industrial Estate when the incident occurred.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the company for failing to provide adequate safety measures.
Mr O'Dwyer was able to access the machine through an unguarded gap, enabling him to enter the press.
While he was inside, the machine started to operate and the plates closed crushing him at a pressure of over 1,000 tonnes.
HSE inspector Trevor Hay said this tragic incident could have been avoided if the company had observed standard industry guidance from the British Plastics Federation and the British Standards Institution.
"Conveyors should be bolted into position, or fitted with an electrical cut-off switch which removes power to the machine when the conveyor is taken away," he stated.
"Effective guarding should prevent access to dangerous machinery by workers, or an automatic system should cut off the power supply if someone is working inside."
Users of such machinery should ensure effective safeguards are in place to avoid further deaths or injuries to their workers, Mr Hay added.
Curver UK Ltd of York Gate, London, pleaded guilty to committing a breach of Regulation 11 (1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations under Section 33(1) (c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £160,000 and ordered to pay £32,000 costs.
Quantum Risk Management are a leading Health and Safety Consultancy
Posted on 18/01/2012
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0845 6780076
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