Manchester aluminium diecaster fined £140,000

A Manchester aluminium diecasting producer has been fined £140,000 after a worker suffered life threatening injuries when he became trapped in a machine. The worker had entered the middle of the aluminium diecasting machine to clear a build-up of metal. Whilst carrying out this routine procedure a robot arm started to move and trapped him. He suffered a cardiac arrest and fourth degree burns.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the machine had only been partially guarded. This was despite there being a risk assessment in place at the time of the incident identifying the hazard of contact or entrapment with the ladle