A Colwick-based lawnmower company has been fined £20,000 for breaching health and safety requirements after a customer's leg became 'sucked' into the cutting blade of a machine. Gedling Borough Council said officials took legal action after a member of the public was left injured in the incident at P.S.Marsden (Lawnmower Services), based at the Colwick Industrial Estate, on December 23 last year.
A borough council report outlining what happened said the customer was at the lawnmower business' premises for a demonstration of a 'Predator 360' stump grinder that he was considering buying. But the report says that after some difficulty starting the machine, which led to three members of staff and the potential buyer standing around the machine, it eventually turned on.
However, the report says that due to the customer's close proximity to the machine a trouser leg was "sucked into the cutting blade, causing severe lacerations" below and above the knee. This, the report added, resulted in muscle damage, "extensive blood loss" and "excruciating pain", with the customer still having remaining issues today.
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Following an investigation by Gedling Borough Council environmental health officers, co-operated with by P.S.Marsden, it was found that the firm had breached a number of health and safety regulations which led to the incident. The case was brought to Nottingham Magistrates' Court on the October 10.
The lawnmower company was fined £20,000 for the offence of not meeting the requirements of Section 3 of the Health and Safety at work Act etc 1974, which requires employers to ensure customers are not exposed to risks to their health and safety. The lawnmower company was also ordered to pay the council just over £3,200 in prosecution costs, the authority's report adds.
Gedling Borough Council said P.S.Marsden took the necessary action to rectify breaches identified shortly after the incident. Leader of the authority, Councillor John Clarke, said: “Following an incident where a member of the public suffered a severe injury at a work place, Gedling Borough Council carried out an investigation into the health and safety practices of the company where the incident occurred.
"The investigation found a number of breaches of health and safety legislation. The council took the appropriate legal action and the company, who co-operated throughout the investigation, have taken action to resolve those issues.
"Health and safety acts are in place to prevent dangerous and tragic incidents from happening, and it is vital that businesses and their employees follow the appropriate guidance or they could also face prosecution.” P.S.Marsden has been approached for comment.
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