Company fined £140,000 fine after teenage apprentice hurt at work
ROTHERHAM firm MTL Advanced Ltd has been fined £140,000 after an apprentice’s thumb was crushed in a works accident.
They were also ordered to pay more than £7,000 in costs and a victim surcharge following the Health and Safety Executive prosecution.
The case dated from November 2024 when a 17 year old apprentice was cutting metal as part of their training at the Brinsworth firm.
A guillotine was located within a dedicated Apprentice Training Workshop, where first-year apprentices learn and practise metal fabrication techniques before moving into the company's main manufacturing areas.
The apprentice made several successful cuts, but on the final cut their thumb came into contact with the machine's clamps, causing crushing.
The HSE investigated and identified, from documents provided by the company, that a large gap in the bed of the guillotine was allowing access to dangerous parts of the machinery.
The HSE said that “critically” the company had failed to identify this risk even after the incident had taken place.
A Prohibition Notice was served to control the risk and a HSE inspector found other issues with the guillotine needing attention.
HSE guidance highlights that young people are likely to be new to the workplace and more risk of injury in the first six months of a job, as they may be less aware of risks.
A wider inspection of the Apprentice Training Workshop revealed further health and safety failings, including access to live electrical parts, further instances of unguarded dangerous machinery, and deficiencies in the system of inspection for workshop equipment.
MTL Advanced Ltd, based at Darwen, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to breaching the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, leading to the fine and costs, imposed at Sheffield Magistrates Court.
HM Principal Inspector of Health and Safety Chris Tilley said: "Young people and apprentices are at the beginning of their career and so when it comes to workplace risks, employers must take particular care to assess those risks and fulfil their duty to keep them safe. Had this machinery been effectively guarded, this injury would never have happened."
HSE provides extensive guidance on managing workplace risks, including preventing access to dangerous parts of machinery and employing young people in training.