Dyson has been fined £1.2m after one of its workers suffered head and chest injuries when they were hit by a 1.5 tonne milling machine. On 27 August 2019 at Dyson’s Wiltshire factory, the worker was moving the machine when it fell on top of them. They only managed to escape being crushed due to the fact the machine landed on two toolboxes and the handle of another machine.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered Dyson Technology Limited failed to give suitable and sufficient information, instruction, and training to those completing the task. They also failed to adequately assess the task and devise a safe system of work to ensure the machine was moved safely.
Two workers were moving a large CNC milling machine within the engineering department of Dyson’s site at Tetbury Hill, Malmesbury. The workers raised the machine using a five-tonne jack and were in in the process of replacing two fixed roller skates with several wooden blocks when it fell. One of the workers was hit by the machine and suffered a wound to his head and injuries to his chest.
At Swindon Magistrates’ Court Dyson Technology Limited of Tetbury Hill, Malmesbury, Wiltshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £1.2m and ordered to pay costs of £11,511.