Worker dragged through 5in gap in machine

Matthew Lowe, 25, ruptured his stomach and bowel, broke his back in two places, shattered his pelvis and fractured both hips, his right arm and several ribs when he was dragged through the five-inch gap in a machine for processing heavy steel beams at a factory in Barnsley.

He said he was “greatly relieved” that both his former employer, Compass Engineering, and Kaltenbach – the company that commissioned and installed the machine – had pleaded guilty to breaching safety regulations before magistrates in Barnsley yesterday. He has since returned to work, though in a different role.

Mr Lowe said: “This prosecution isn’t about securing justice, or seeing Compass Engineering and Kaltenbach publicly flogged in court. What matters most is that the industry learns from my experience.

“My life has changed forever and no matter how well I recover from my physical injuries I will still have the psychological impact of the accident hanging over me.

“I hope my case highlights the dangers posed by not following health and safety regulations. It still won’t be able to put my life back to how it was before the accident, but at least then it might prevent others from suffering in the future.”

At the time of the accident in December 2008, Mr Lowe was working on a large saw and drill machine when a lifting arm became attached to his overalls and dragged him through the five-inch wide hatch in the wall.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed there was no guarding in place to protect the worker from dangerous moving parts on the computer-operated machine, which was the size of several tennis courts.

Both Compass Engineering and Kaltenbach admitted one charge each of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 yesterday.

Prosecuting, Chris Chambers said: “As Matthew leaned through the hatch he was struck on the back of the shoulder and pulled through. Shoulder to feet he was pulled through the opening... the width of a CD case.”

The prosecutor said he suffered “life-threatening and life-changing” injuries and his family was told to prepare for the worst.

Magistrates heard he survived the ordeal and went on to make a good recovery, although he still suffers from some physical and emotional problems.

Mr Chambers said Mr Lowe was possibly saved from death by his smaller frame and added: “If a larger body had gone through that gap the consequences could have been worse.”

Chris Baranowski, for Compass Engineering, said the firm had spent thousands of pounds making sure the machine was now safe and was committed to health and safety at the factory. He said it was not a “deliberate breach case.”

James Ageros, for Kaltenbach, said senior management expressed deep regret for what happened and it was an “error of judgment” that machine guards were not in place at the time of the accident, but there was an agreement that Compass would do it.

Mr Lowe said: “Too many people are needlessly killed and injured in accidents at work. If hearing my story makes them think twice about safety, then I’ll be happy.”

Sentencing will take place at Sheffield Crown Court later this month.