Man almost paralysed by machinery
26/07/2010
A man who was struck by a manufacturing robot was almost paralysed down one side of his body and had his voice box damaged, a court heard.
On May 6, 2008, Michael Brewer was struck while trying to repair a fully-automated industrial robot at Dura Automotive Body and Glass Systems UK in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham Crown Court heard.
The automotive firm was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £20,000 in costs.after a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The court heard how a HSE investigation found the machine needed to be put into manual so it could be accessed for repairs. However, this was not adequately supervised. The risk assessment the company had produced was not sufficient as it had failed to address the risks from maintenance operations or the risks posed by the industrial robots.
HSE inspector Edward Fryer said: "This is a prime example of a company failing to address the risks relating to maintenance work."
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