A concrete pumping company has been fined after a worker was injured when his foot got trapped by the paddles in the hopper of a concrete pump.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told Llandudno Magistrates’ Court that on 1 October 2014 a worker was cleaning out a pump following a concrete pour at a construction site on Colwyn Bay promenade.
He lifted the interlocked safety grille and sat on the hopper with his feet inside removing the concrete residue. The safety interlock failed causing the paddles to start moving trapping his left foot resulting in partial amputation.
Reilly Concrete Pumping, of Old Premier Stone Yard, Station Road, Sutton, St Helens, admitted breaching Regulation 5(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, and was fined £8,000 with costs of £1746.         
Speaking after the hearing Health and Safety inspector Chris Wilcox said: “This tragic accident has left the employee suffering life changing injury. Employers are legally required to ensure that work equipment is maintained in a safe condition for use, which in this case was the safety interlock on the hopper grille.”
For further information on equipment safety checks visit our website at
http://www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-machinery/inspection.htm
Notes to editors 

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at:legislation.gov.uk/ 
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk