A plastics manufacturing company has been hit with a hefty £330,000 fine after a tragic incident that led to the death of Nathan Hook, a 34-year-old father.
Nathan was working at Maynard and Harris Plastics near Beccles, Suffolk, when he became entangled in a piece of rotating machinery, resulting in fatal head injuries.
The Incident and Investigation Findings
On October 7, 2021, Nathan was operating a lathe, a machine primarily used for shaping materials like metal and wood, while working a late shift.
As he manually applied emery cloth (similar to sandpaper) to deburr a metal workpiece, the cloth became caught in the rotating machinery.
His sweatshirt sleeve was also ensnared, pinning him against the machine and leading to fatal injuries.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed that Maynard and Harris Plastics failed to provide adequate training on how to safely use emery cloth with the lathe.
The company also lacked a sufficient risk assessment for alternative, safer methods of applying the cloth.
This lack of safety measures contributed to Nathan’s tragic death.
Company Admits Safety Failures
Following the investigation, Maynard and Harris Plastics pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act.
As a result, they were fined £330,000 and ordered to pay additional costs of £4,373 at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on December 5.
The company acknowledged its responsibility for not ensuring proper safety protocols were in place.
Emotional Response from Nathan’s Family
Nathan’s mother, Jacqueline Castledine, expressed a mix of emotions after the court proceedings.
While acknowledging her sadness, she felt relieved that her son had been “completely exonerated” through the HSE’s thorough investigation.
She thanked the HSE and others who had supported the family during this difficult time and spoke about the emotional toll of the loss.
“We must now try to move forward keeping Nathan with us always,” she added.
HSE’s Statement and Legal Findings
HSE inspector Natalie Prince emphasized the company’s failure to protect Nathan, stating that he was a young father who should have safely returned home after his shift.
The company’s lack of proper safety measures directly contributed to Nathan’s death.
A jury inquest conducted in November 2022 also found that inadequate training and poor communication of risks likely played a significant role in the incident.
The family and the HSE’s efforts underline the importance of workplace safety, with a clear reminder that such preventable tragedies must be avoided at all costs.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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