Scapa fined £120,000 over worker's death in Houghton Regis factory

A company which manufactures adhesive tape has been fined £120,000 two years after a worker was crushed to death while operating a rewind slitting machine.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Brett Dolby, 44, tragically died at the Scapa Tapes Ltd factory on Humphrys Road, Houghton Regis, on April 10, 2018.

Scapa UK Ltd appeared for sentencing at Luton Magistrates Court on Friday, where it pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Scapa was fined £120,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £15,192.68.

The former Scapa factory on Humphrys Road, Houghton RegisThe former Scapa factory on Humphrys Road, Houghton Regis
The former Scapa factory on Humphrys Road, Houghton Regis

The court heard how Mr Dolby was operating the machine - designed to cut a large roll of adhesive material into narrower rolls - when he was caught up by an in-running nip between a rotating roller and the adhesive material. The nip did not have a safety guard.

Mr Dolby’s colleagues found him trapped in the machine, having suffered fatal crush injuries.

After the hearing, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Emma Page said: “This tragic incident could easily have been prevented if the company had properly assessed and applied effective control measures to minimise the risks from dangerous parts of the machinery.

“The dangers associated with in-running nips are well known, and a wealth of advice and guidance is freely available from HSE and other organisations.

“Employers should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

The investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Mr Dolby was required to work close to an unguarded in-running nip, while the rewind slitting machine was in operation - which presented a danger due to the rotating parts.

The risk assessment for the machine was inadequate because it failed to identify the in-running nips and other hazards on the machine.

Therefore, machine operators were provided with inadequate information and training relating to the risks associated with this operation; and employees were placed at severe risk of injury.

The company previously received advice in 2012 from both HSE and an external consultant in relation to the guarding of machinery on site.

However, it had failed to take action to ensure the necessary guarding of the rewind slitting machine before the incident in April 2018.

Scapa operated two local factories including the Humphrys Road site on the Woodside Industrial Estate, as well as another in Cosgrove Way, Luton. It withdrew from both of these sites last September, leading to around 70 redundancies.

The company continues to operate from its base in Ashton-under-Lyne, Manchester.

Following the ruling, a Scapa spokesman said: "We were all deeply saddened by the tragic incident at the site and our thoughts remain with the family, friends and colleagues of Brett Dolby.

"We accept the Magistrates’ Court ruling and have implemented the health and safety changes identified by the Health and Safety Executive following the incident in 2018."

HSE guidance on the safety requirements for plastic sheet and film winders is available here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ppis11.pdf

Related topics: