A CONSTRUCTION firm has been fined £12,000 after a trainee was injured following an industrial accident.

The 17-year-old was left with ‘significant impairment’ after a horrific incident involving a machine while working for agricultural building specialist Malcolm E Taylor Ltd in November 2016.

The young man has now been left with extensive damage to his left arm after the incident left him in chronic pain with significant impairment to the use of his limb.

The accident occurred at the company’s site in Langho when the trainee's arm became trapped between the metal sheeting he was holding and rollers as it was fed into the machine.

An investigation by The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) ensued and found that improper measures were in place to prevent against accident.

Findings revealed that it was possible for employees to reach dangerous parts of the roll-forming machine when it was in operation, meaning the company had failed to suitably guard the machine.

A court case followed the investigation where Malcolm E Taylor Ltd of Mellor Brook, pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 11 of the provision and use of work equipment regulations at Preston Magistrates Court.

The company was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2967.

Following the case, HSE inspector Anthony Banks said: “The dangers of unguarded machinery are well-known.

"If Malcolm E Taylor Ltd had ensured that suitable guarding was in place, then this incident would have been avoided.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take enforcement action when the required standards are not met.”

Malcolm E Taylor Ltd were contacted by the Lancashire Telegraph but unable to comment at the time of printing.

The HSE is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety.