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You'll send us to the wall - warning as firm is hit for £12,000 over injured workman
A LEADING Calderdale firm – ordered to pay £12,000 over an injured worker – is going into administration, a court heard.
Vanguard Wire Products, of Raglan Street, Halifax, was struggling to keep its head above water, the company's solicitor told Calderdale magistrates.
Suzanne Drinkwater added that the firm had shed 40 jobs in the past eight months. She said: "We are going through tough times and this is being felt very hard by the company.
"The latest news is, in the next few days it will be going into administration." The firm currently employs 45 people. Their future was not made clear in court.
The firm admitted breaches of health and safety but Miss Drinkwater urged magistrates not to impose hefty financial penalties.
Managing director Paul Howcroft and engineering manager Paul Thomas were both in court.
The company was prosecuted after Polish worker Dariusz Wojcik lost most of a finger in a machine designed to cut rolls of wire.
Mr Wojcik had received only 20 minutes' training before being left to work the machine alone, said Andy Denison, prosecuting.
He went on: "A loop formed between the wire coil and the entrance to the machine.
"Mr Wojcik attempted to move it by hand without switching it off. His left-hand middle finger got trapped in a lasso and cut it off up to the first knuckle.
"He could not stop the machine himself but fortunately a colleague heard his screams and ran to turn it off.
"There was a risk of serious injury from all these machines. The company in effect left individuals to work out their own way of doing it."
The accident happened in August 2008 and since then Vanguard has developed new operating procedures and fitted extra safety devices to its cutting machines.
Mr Wojcik has since returned to Poland.
The firm was fined 9,000 and ordered to pay costs of 3,579.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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