Armagh recycling company fined following health and safety failures

The Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) has successfully led a prosecution against, County Armagh based, Envirogreen Polymers Limited for failing to adequately prevent access to the dangerous parts of a baler machine.

The company was fined £5000 at Newry Magistrates Court today (20 September 2021) after pleading guilty to failing to ensure the safety at work of their employees.

The Court heard that on 15 August 2019, an HSENI inspection found that a safety interlock on a baling machine had been bypassed, meaning there were no measures in place to stop employees accessing dangerous parts of the machine during operation.

HSENI Inspector, Kiara Blackburn said: “Employers have a legal duty to ensure employees and others are not put at risk from unguarded machinery.

“Interlocked guards are vital to ensure machines cannot be started before the guard is closed, and to prevent the machine being opened while its mechanism is moving.”

Poorly maintained, absent or bypassed machinery guards have the potential to cause serious crush injuries and traumatic amputations.

For more information about machine safety visit HSE's website at:

• Waste and Recycling - Machinery (www.hse.gov.uk)

Notes to editors: 

1. Breaches and fines for Envirogreen Polymers Ltd are as follows
   a) Article 4(1) of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, fine £5000
2. For media enquiries please contact: HSENI Press Office on 028 9024 3249 or email media@hseni.gov.uk. For out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110

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