Forging company fined over death of employee entangled in lathe
A UK forging company was fined £750,000 after an employee died when he became entangled in a lathe while using handheld emery cloth.
The following is an abridgement of an article originally published by Health and Safety Executive.
Incident Summary
A forging company was fined £750,000 after an employee died when he became entangled in a lathe while using handheld emery cloth at its site in Halesowen on 8 December 2023.
The 54‑year‑old machinist from Kidderminster sustained catastrophic injuries and died later that evening.
Legal Outcome
The Health and Safety Executive found the company failed to prohibit the use of handheld emery cloth on lathes, prevent access to dangerous moving parts, ensure personal protective equipment did not create risk of entanglement, and undertake a suitable risk assessment or establish a safe operating procedure.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was ordered to pay £38,314 in costs at Walsall Magistrates’ Court on 18 February 2026.
Inspector’s Comment
HSE Inspector Sophie Neale stated, "This was an entirely preventable incident which has had tragic consequences.
Employers must ensure that safe systems of work are in place and that workers are not exposed to foreseeable risks from dangerous machinery."
