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PHW · Machinery · 2025-11-05

Reflex Flexible Packaging Ltd fined £277,500 after a worker was fatally trapped in unguarded machinery

Langley Mill, Derbyshire · Derby Crown Court

What happened

A worker entered an opening in a plastic conversion machine that gave access to dangerous moving parts. He became trapped in unguarded mechanisms and died at the scene from crush asphyxia.

Injuries: fatal

The breach

HSWA 1974 s2(1)

The sentence

  • Fine: £277,500
  • Costs: £20,000
HSE inspector

“This tragic incident could have been easily prevented had a suitable and sufficient risk assessment taken place.”

What would have prevented it

Machinery with dangerous moving parts must have fixed guards preventing access, verified by suitable risk assessment.

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Source: HSE press release, Plastics firm fined following fatal machinery accident