Employee lost four toes following workplace incident which also resulted in fine for NI engineering firm

A court heard that the employee suffered a serious foot injury while trying to move a large 700kg metal frame using an overhead cran

A Northern Irish engineering firm has been fined in court after an employee partially lost four toes following a workplace incident.

Maine Surface Finishing Ltd appeared at Belfast Crown Court as a result of an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) following an incident on August 29, 2023, at its Coleraine premises.

The court heard that the employee suffered a serious foot injury while trying to move a large 700kg metal frame using an overhead crane, with the frame being connected with a fabric sling. During the move from one part of the warehouse to another, the sling sheared against the edge of the frame causing it to fall onto the foot of the crane operator.

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After arriving in hospital, it was found that the injury to the person’s foot was so severe it resulted in the partial amputation of four toes.

A HSENI investigation found the company did not provide crane or slinging training to the team involved in selecting and securing an appropriate sling to the metal frame. It also found the company did not have a supervisor on the night shift who was trained and competent in crane/sling arrangements, or the planning of the lift.

HSENI Inspector, Kevin Campbell said: “Employers have a legal duty to ensure employees and others are not put at risk during lifting operations, when components are being transferred and moved about the workplace.”

Mr Campbell added: “Employers must ensure they complete an adequate risk assessment of the work process and implement proper controls to prevent harm to their workers. Workers must be adequately and appropriately trained to ensure they are competent to perform the range of tasks they are required to do. “The law requires that every lifting operation involving lifting equipment needs to be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner.

“HSENI will not hesitate to recommend the prosecution of businesses and individuals who are found to have failed in the provision of safe working conditions for their employees.”

The relevant HSE Approved Code of Practice Safe Use of Lifting Equipment contains information and guidance on the safe procedures for lifting operations including its planning, equipment selection and maintenance, and supervision. This document is readily available to view and free to download via www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l113.pdf