Recycling plant hasn't learned Health & Safety lessons
- Dec 19, 2014
- EmmaArnold
On 26th January 2014, Philip Grace, a 43 year old father of a young son, suffered catastrophic injuries at Recresco Ltd, a glass recycling plant in Ellesemere Port. This comes less than four years after the tragic death of 29 year old Ian Aliski whilst he was driving a forklift truck at the plant.
Philip was working at the plant as a fabricator welder through an agency, when he was asked to repair a vibrating block on a moving conveyor belt. A team leader, employed by Recresco told him that they were not prepared to stop production whilst he carried out the repairs.
As Philip was working under the conveyor belt, his right hand became snagged in it. His hand was pulled into a tail roller and was severed. He was rushed to Whiston Hospital and attempts were made to re-attach his severed hand. However, those attempts failed and Philip has had his limb amputated below the elbow and he is currently waiting for a functional prosthesis from Aintree hospital.
Philip is right handed and his injuries have had a devastating effect on his life. He used to enjoy taking his 8 year old son Edward swimming and playing table tennis with him, or playing a round of golf with his Dad, but unfortunately, due to the accident, he is unable to do any of these things anymore.
Recresco Ltd has admitted they are primarily to blame for Philip’s injuries and an HSE Investigation is ongoing. It was reported today that the company has been prosecuted and fined £180,000 for serious health and safety breaches following the death of Ian Aliski in a crushing accident in 2010.
Richard Edwards, a senior solicitor at PotterReesDolan says:
One very distressing feature of our work is that we frequently act for people who have suffered severe injuries whilst working in the recycling and waste industry. The H&S Executive classify this as a high risk industry and last year it records that twelve workers lost their lives and three members of the public perished too. Although the industry only accounts for 0.6% of employees in Britain, it produces 2.8% of reported injuries. Clearly there is a problem that must be addressed. There is a strong environmental obligation to recycle but this industry must not forget the obligation that it owes to its workers