Tyre business fined £54,000 after worker dragged into machine

An Essex-based tyre refurbishment company has been fined £54,000 after a worker was severely injured after being dragged into a machine.

The incident occurred in August 2021 at D&D Commercial Services Limited's premises in Rainham.

Neal Hetherington, 42, from Woodford Green, was working on a tyre buffing machine when he was caught by his t-shirt, which pulled him into the spinning blades of the machine.

The machine had been freewheeling to a stop at the time, resulting in significant injuries to Hetherington, who required immediate hospital treatment and was unable to work for several months.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the company had failed to ensure the proper functioning of the machine’s hold-to-run controls and braking system.