- Worker’s right hand trapped between the print rollers of machinery
- The woman had worked as a machinery operator for 11 years
- HSE investigation found that the company failed to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery
A manufacturer of napkins and other thin ply paper products has been fined after a worker’s hand became trapped in machinery at its site in St Helens.
The experienced worker, who had been a machine operator for 11 years was cleaning the rollers of a machine that is used to emboss logos and emblems onto tissue paper before folding the napkins into shape. As she was doing this, her right hand was drawn into the machine and was trapped for several minutes.
She sustained serious injuries to her right hand including full amputations to her little finger and ring finger and partial amputations to her index and middle finger. She also has increased sensitivity in the hand. She is unable to manage daily tasks such as cooking and cannot take part in her hobbies such as cycling, knitting, and gardening due to the injury being on her dominant hand.
An investigation by the HSE found that the machine did not have an interlocked guard to prevent access to the print rollers. Therefore the dangerous moving parts of the machine could be accessed by any employee while the machine was operating. In addition to this, the company had previously been served with enforcement for other machinery guarding issues during site inspections in 2021, 2019, 2014, and 2010.
HSE guidance states employers must take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery. This will normally be fixed or interlocked guards which prevent persons coming into contact with those parts; this was the expected control in this instance. Further guidance can be found here Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) – HSE.
Duni Poppies Limited of Cornwall Street, St Helens pleaded guilty to breaching The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, Regulation 11(1). The company was fined £80,000 and order to pay £4,756 in costs at Warrington Magistrates Court on 3 November 2026.
HSE inspector Gemma Feerick said:
“This avoidable incident led to an experienced employee suffering life changing injuries.
“If the company had properly assessing the risks and applied the correct control measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery, it would have been avoided.
“We will not hesitate to take action against companies who fall below the expected standards and fail to keep people safe.”
This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Julian White and paralegal officer Ella Loveday.
Further information:
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
- More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
- Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
- HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.