Fines after man's leg amputated

Vulnerable people should not be put at risk when taking part in work-related activities, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said.

The warning follows an accident at a recycling plant which resulted in a man having to have his leg amputated.

The 38-year-old, who had learning difficulties, was badly injured at South East Northumberland Recycling Ltd in 2005.

He was crushed by a bale of paper while visiting the site in West Sleekburn.

At a subsequent hearing at Bedlington Magistrates' Court, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland Care Trust and the company all pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches.

Risk management

Each was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £4,000 costs.

The court heard that Simon Nelson was a service user of the horticultural unit at Hepscott Park, which was run by the council's social services department, with external management services carried out by Northumberland Care Trust.

Recyclable material was taken from the unit to the SENREC on a weekly basis and Mr Nelson was a regular visitor on these trips.

It was during a visit in February 2005 that he was struck by one or two falling recycled paper bales and suffered two cracked vertebrae, damage to his right eye and later had his right leg amputated.

HSE inspector Martin Baillie said: "The HSE encourages sensible risk management.

"However, it cannot condone activities where vulnerable people are exposed to an unacceptable level of risk."