South Kirby firm fined more than £24K after employee suffered partial severing of fingers
A wooden cable drum manufacturer based in South Kirkby has been fined £24,395 after an employee's fingers were severed in a printing machine.
The 57-year-old woman was working for Askern UK Limited at its site on Lidgate Crescent at Langthwaite Business Park, on March 8, 2024, when she was able to raise the guard and easily override an interlock to run the rollers of a machine which prints logos.
She was cleaning the rollers with a paper towel when her fingers were drawn into the nip point, leaving two of her fingers partially severed.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Askern UK Limited failed to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery, namely the moving rollers of the printing machine.
The investigation also found that the company had failed to adequately maintain the machine or provide employees with suitable training for the printer.
HSE guidance states employers must take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery, including ensuring protection devices are not easily bypassed or disabled.
Askern UK Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The company was fined £24,395, ordered to pay £5000 in costs and a victim surcharge of £2,000 in costs at Leeds Magistrates' Court on 4 February 2026.
HSE inspector Shauna Halstead said: "This case demonstrated multiple failures by the company in respect of the printing machine.
"An employee was tasked with cleaning the printer without provision of suitable information, instruction or training, particularly in relation to the safety devices intended to protect them.
*Askern UK Limited has been contacted for comment.