Five-digit fine for SmithKline over thumb loss

Prosecutions and Claims |
01.02.2006

Pharmaceutical giant SmithKline Beecham has been fined £15,000 plus £6,600 costs by East Berkshire Magistrates Court after a worker lost his thumb while operating a toothpaste package filling machine.

The firm had previously been warned by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that some of its systems of work were unsafe and its safety management needed to be improved.

The incident, during which agency worker Angus Pilcher's thumb was partially severed by the machinery, occurred at SmithKline's Maidenhead plant in December 2004.

According to the HSE it would have been prevented if the company had heeded earlier warnings by its inspectors.HSE inspector Sarah Page said: "This was an accident waiting to happen, because poor safety management failed to spot complacency and unsafe practices. The company had had a similar accident three years before, but failed to pass on HSE guidance to the workforce.

"This meant some workers incorrectly believed it was OK to perform routine tasks inside a moving machine with the guard doors open; and this practice was passed on to newcomers, including Mr Pilcher."

SmithKline Beecham pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.