HSE fines a packaging firm following a serious machinery guarding failure, marking its second major penalty in under a year.
A UK packaging manufacturer has been prosecuted and fined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an employee sustained severe crush injuries to their hand. The incident occurred when the worker's hand was drawn into the rollers of a laminating machine during cleaning operations.
An investigation by the HSE revealed that the company had failed to fit a fixed guard to prevent workers accessing dangerous nip points on the machinery. This enforcement action marks the second major fine faced by the same business in less than twelve months, following a £277,500 penalty imposed in November 2025 after a fatal accident at a separate facility.
The ruling underlines a continuing push by the regulator to penalise businesses that neglect essential machine safety protocols. Machinery guarding offences remain one of the most common grounds for HSE enforcement in manufacturing and processing environments, with inspectors regularly targeting un-guarded moving parts that pose risk of entangling or trapping operatives.
When a single entity incurs repeated high-value penalties within a short timeframe, it signals to the broader industrial sector that the HSE is actively tracking compliance histories. Magistrates routinely increase fine benchmarks for repeat offenders, particularly where fundamental risk assessments and basic physical safeguards have been overlooked.
What does this mean for a UK tradesperson or DIYer actually buying this kit — does it change what they should pay, buy, or watch out for?
For workshop owners, sole traders, and commercial buyers purchasing industrial workshop equipment or processing machinery, this ruling is a stark reminder to inspect safety features before putting plant into service. When buying new or used machinery from equipment distributors or merchants, buyers must verify that mandatory interlocks and fixed physical guards are fully fitted and compliant with current safety regulations. Do not accept machinery with missing guards or bypass mechanisms, as rectifying these issues after purchase adds unexpected costs, and operating non-compliant equipment exposes your business to severe HSE penalties and potential closure.
Reported by HSE — original article
Price alerts on the kit you're watching, plus the deals our team files each day.
Create a free account
