The incident took place on 16 March 2017 when the specialist security papermaking operations at Bathford and Overton were still under the sole ownership of De La Rue International.
North Somerset Magistrates’ Court heard that an employee of De La Rue International was helping colleagues remove paper from the machine by standing in the gap between the size press and the after-dryer section of the machine at Bathford Paper Mill near Bath.
“After a fixed guard was opened, the employee expected the spar drum to come towards him (clockwise), however, by the time he realised the cylinder was turning in the opposite direction (anti-clockwise), the spar drum had turned and his head became trapped between a spar and the base of the fixed guard.”
The resulting life-changing injuries required a nine-hour operation for facial reconstruction.
The Health & Safety Executive launched an investigation afterwards, which found that there was not a safe system of work when the paper machine was operated in reverse.
De La Rue International pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £300,000 and ordered to pay costs of £11,191.70.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Tania Nickson said: “Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working.
“If a suitable safe system of work had been in place prior to the incident, the life-changing injuries sustained by the employee could have been prevented.”
De La Rue also issued a statement about the incident.
Clive Vacher, chief executive, said: “We understand the devastating impact this has had on the individual, his family and colleagues and have done everything we can to support them. De La Rue offers our heartfelt apologies that this incident occurred at the mill in Bathford.”
The company stated: “De La Rue has a strong health and safety record and is certified to ISO45001:2018. This site had a very good health and safety record. Following the accident, De La Rue reviewed its health and safety systems and standards throughout its operations.”
The PLC also said that in determining the level of fine, the District Judge had given credit to De La Rue for its good health and safety record, its general commitment to health and safety and its response to the incident.
In a move that was unrelated to the accident, De La Rue divested its paper wing and sold a majority 90% stake in the papermaking businesses at Overton Mill and Bathford Mill in February 2018.
The papermaking business is now known as Portals.
