Recycling company Recresco has been fined after an employee at its South Wales plant was crushed by a roller shutter door.
Newport Magistrates’ Court heard last week how the man, who has not been named, cracked three ribs and suffered a damaged spleen when the door’s roller barrel fell on him on 17 April 2015. The injuries caused him to miss eight weeks of work.
Recresco is a recycling company that focuses on the collection and recycling of glass, plastics and Tetrapaks across four sites. This incident took place in the company’s Cwmbran facility in South Wales.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that none of the electronically operated roller shutter doors at the company’s site had been adequately maintained to keep the equipment safe.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and were fined £50,000, as well as being made to pay costs of £9,944.
Speaking after the case, HSE inspector Lee Schilling said: “This case highlights the importance of regular pro-active maintenance and inspection of work equipment, including roller shutter doors, to ensure equipment does not deteriorate to the extent that it puts people at risk. In this case Recresco failed to effectively maintain their equipment and it could have easily resulted in a fatal injury.”
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.