Recycling company director sentenced after worker loses leg in machinery accident

The Director of a recycling company in Halifax has been given a community order after an incident where a worker’s leg was crushed by machinery.

The incident concerned Nathan Bland (20), an employee of BW Recycling Limited. Part of his job was operating the waste baler, which compresses waste products into a form that’s easy to manage for recycling or disposal.

On 26 November 2019, Mr Bland’s leg was caught in the baler, amputating the lower part of his left leg instantly. He also lost several toes from his right foot after his legs were crushed in the baler.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company’s director, Daisy Ning Bai (43) introduced a working platform in front of the baler to make the job of filling the hopper easier for the operatives.

Introducing this platform in front of the hopper permitted easy access to the baling chamber, including access to the dangerous moving parts of the baler itself.

Mr Bland, now 25, said in his victim personal statement that “every day was a struggle” and that returning to work had proved to be very difficult, because of the prosthetic leg he now has to wear:

“I can still have flashbacks,” he said. “I also struggle as my stump has issues fitting on my prosthetic leg. The incident has also affected my social life as it has given me PTSD and depression.

“I have had to get a support worker to help with my daily activities such as shopping and going to appointments.”

Daisy Ning Bai, Director of BW Recycling Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. She was given a 12-month community order and must complete 160 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £5,843 in costs.

BW Recycling Limited was dissolved via compulsory strike off on 5 December 2023. As a result, the company was not prosecuted by HSE.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Sarah Lee commented:

“A young man has had his life changed forever as a result of this incident. Companies and individuals that use balers should not install working platforms or other devices in front of the hoppers on balers, as it permits access to dangerous moving parts of the baler.

“This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices”

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