An engineering firm has been fined £32,000 after a worker suffered extensive injuries whilst attempting to light burners on mould making machine at a Northampton plant.

On 11 April 2018, an RSM Castings Ltd employee leaned into a mould making machine and a pattern plate closed on his head and upper body.

Consequently, he suffered a broken neck, back fractures, broken ribs, a fractured shoulder blade, a raptured spleen, torn liver, a punctured lung, facial fractures and loss of teeth.

The employee is still unable to return to work due to his injuries.

An HSE’s investigation found there was inadequate safeguarding to prevent access between the closing pattern parts of the moulding machine.

RSM Castings Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and have been fined £32,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1739.70.

After the hearing HSE Inspector, Neil Ward, commented: “this case highlights the importance of foundries checking guarding on their machines and not to be complacent about machinery safety. In this case RSM Castings failed to ensure that the machine was guarded to the correct standard and it could have easily resulted in a fatal injury.”