Worker suffers leg amputation after accident, wood paneling manufacturer fined £400K
An investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety, has determined that Kronospan Limited could have prevented the severe injury of a 53-year-old worker. The incident occurred at the company’s factory in Chirk when a pack of waste MDF sheets fell from a trailer. The pack, which weighed approximately 350kg, landed on the leg of an employee named Mark Hughes. Because his injuries were so severe, the worker had to have his leg amputated below his knee.
An investigation conducted by the HSE found that there was no suitable risk assessment or system of work in place specifically relating to the risks associated with the stacking, movement and loading of waste MDF sheets.
Kronospan Limited of Chirk, Wrexham pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They were fined £400,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,701 at Wrexham Magistrates Court on 19 November 2024.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, HSE inspector Marie Wheeler said “A man has suffered truly life-changing injuries as a result of this company’s failures.
“The incident was completely preventable had a proper risk assessment been carried out.
“Nor did the company have a suitable safe system of work in place.
“HSE will always take action when basic failures like these result in very serious injury.”
Mark Hughes added, “My injury has changed everything in my life, it is like somebody dropped a bomb on our life and never picked up the pieces,” he said.
“Everything now just takes a lot of planning to do and spontaneous trips do not happen anymore.
“I won’t go anywhere that has a lot of steps.”
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