Goodyear UK fined after worker fractures skull

ERJ staff report (DS)

Wolverhampton, UK -- Goodyear Dunlop UK, was in court on 1 November after a teenage employee fractured his skull whilst maintaining machinery.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd after one of its maintenance team, Karl Illidge, struck his head at the firm's Stafford Road, Bushbury, Wolverhampton site.

Wolverhampton Magistrates heard that on 11 September 2009, Mr Illidge, a 17 year old apprentice, was working with two other mechanical maintenance engineers to repair a tyre press when the internal bladder of the press re-energised and burst. This blew the lid off the press with great force and noise, causing Mr Illidge to move very quickly out of the way and, in doing so, he struck his head on nearby equipment.

The firm, whose head office is in Erdington, Birmingham, was fined £18,250 and ordered to pay £4,807 costs after contravening Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

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Press release from UK health & Safety Executive