Glasgow biomass company fined £129,000 after worker's fingers severed by machine

A biomass company based in Glasgow has been fined £129,000 after parts of a worker’s fingers were cut off by a machine.

The 57-year-old man was attempting to clear a blockage on a surge hopper – a large vessel through which processed material passes at the end of a production line – at SMW Limited’s Daldowie Fuel Plant in Uddingston, in 2023.

The shift operator removed a metal clip and rubber gaiter to gain access to the valve while in contact with the control room, which operated the valve remotely, through a hand-held radio.

There was no line of sight between the two areas, and the radios were subject to interference.

The firm was fined £129,000 HSE via Supplied

A miscommunication over the radio led the employee to believe that the rotary lock valve had been turned off, when his right hand came into contact with the moving blades.

His index, middle and ring fingers were all partially severed.

The man has not returned to work following the incident.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had failed to ensure that access to the dangerous parts of the machinery was prevented.

They said that relying on radio communication was “not good enough” and that a fixed guard could have prevented the incident.

SMW Limited pleaded guilty to breaching the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations and the Health and Safety at Work Act at Hamilton Sheriff Court on May 20.

The company was fined £120,000 and ordered to pay a Victim Surcharge of £9,000.

HSE inspector Nicola Kerr said: “This man’s injuries had had a profound impact on his life, and were completely preventable.

“Where workers are required to interact with machinery containing dangerous moving parts, employers must ensure that adequate physical safeguards are in place to prevent access to those parts.

“Relying solely on radio communication to control isolation – particularly where there is no line of sight and interference is possible – is simply not good enough.

“A fixed guard would have been a reasonably practicable measure that could have prevented this incident entirely.”