Mon, 23 Jul 2018
Tim Pole acted for the Health and Safety Executive to prosecute a case in which a Leicester company was fined £50,000 with £8,825 costs.
CPS Flexible (now called Fusion Flexibles), of Airmans Business Park, Ratby Lane, admitted one count of failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees. The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Leicester Crown Court heard that on March 4, 2016, an employee of the flexible packaging manufacturer was operating a conversion machine with a heated blade to cut through the plastic sheets.
Tim Pole told the hearing that the employee was cleaning the hot blade when it lowered without warning, severing three fingers on his right hand.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company had failed to both identify the risk of the blade lowering without warning and to put in place appropriate measures to eliminate that risk.
Judge Nicholas Dean QC said the company made a voluntary statement accepting responsibility, immediately took steps to remedy the problem and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
For more information about this case visit https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/factory-worker-suffers-horrific-injuries-1779591
Tim Pole is Joint Head of the Regulatory Group at No5 Barristers' Chambers. He is also a member of the following groups: Regulatory and Licensing, Crime, Inquest, Public Inquiries and Coronial Law.
View Tim Pole’s profile here: https://www.no5.com/barristers/barrister-details/303-tim-pole/
