Tyre firm fined following health and safety breaches

A Wolverhampton-based tyre company has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following a workplace accident.

A 17-year old apprentice was performing machine maintenance at Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd’s Stafford Road, Bushbury base when the incident occurred.

The teenage worker was repairing a tyre press when the lid blew off due to the machine’s interior bursting. He was forced to move his head quickly, striking it on nearby equipment. He suffered a fractured skull as a result.

The case has highlighted the key importance of health and safety signs being clearly displayed in the workplace.

The case brought against Goodyear Dunlop by HSE was heard by Wolverhampton Magistrates earlier this week. The tyre firm admitted breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was consequently fined £18,250 and ordered to pay £4,807 in costs.

HSE inspector Amarjit Kalay said, “This incident was entirely preventable had there been a safe system in place to ensure that services to the press had been isolated prior to the start of the maintenance work.”

“It is also clear that the maintenance team were insufficiently trained to carry out the necessary diagnostic work on this piece of machinery,” he added.