Tyre manufacturer fined after workers seriously injured

Pirelli Tyres has been fined after two employees had their arms broken by the same machine.

Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard how, on November 29, 2013, an employee of Pirelli Tyres was loading the stripline machine when his left arm was pulled in by a roller.

On August 31, 2015, a second employee had his left arm pulled in by the same roller whilst trying to make an adjustment during a production run.

Both incidents occurred at Pirelli’s tyre factory at Dalston Road, Carlisle.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the machine, which was manufactured by Pirelli in 2003, was not properly guarded, despite the first incident.

Pirelli Tyres of Derby Road, Burton-on-Trent pleaded guilty to two breaches of Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

The company was fined £512,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,820.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Matthew Tinsley said: “Dangerous parts of machinery must be guarded to prevent access. Machines that are built in-house for a company’s own use must meet modern guarding standards, just as if they were going to be placed on the open market.

“This machine should have been appropriately guarded from first use but, failing that, the first incident should have prompted a thorough review of the machine to identify what additional guarding was needed and appropriate action taken.”