Recycling firm fined after worker injured in shredder

Maidstone Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 7 October 2013, a plant mechanic employed by Countrystyle Recycling was in the process of repairing a shredding machine after the metal plate forming the roof of the hammer drum had become detached. The worker was kneeling on a conveyor belt inside the shredder when it restarted and he was thrown from the machine. He suffered a fractured right leg and left arm.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company did not have adequate or suitable systems in place to protect the health and safety of their employees, including failing to enforce the ‘safe stop’ process which should be followed when using dangerous machinery. The company had allowed unchallenged poor practice to become the norm.

Countrystyle Recycling was fined £300,000 and ordered to pay £8903 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.