Man pulled through gap the size of a CD case in factory accident
105 replies, posted
[quote]Two companies have pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations after a worker miraculously survived being dragged through a five inch gap in a machine.
Compass Engineering Ltd and Kaltenbach Ltd were prosecuted after Matthew Lowe sustained horrific injuries when he was dragged through a machine for processing heavy steel beams at a factory in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, in December 2008.
Mr Lowe, now aged 25, ruptured his stomach and bowel, broke his back in two places, shattered his pelvis and fractured both hips, his right arm and several ribs when he all bar his head was dragged through the five inch gap.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed there was no guarding in place to protect the worker from dangerous moving parts on the computer-operated machine, which was the size of several tennis courts. Both companies admitted one charge each of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at Barnsley Magistrates' Court.
Prosecuting, Chris Chambers said: "The machine could start, stop and restart without warning to the operator. As Matthew leaned through the hatch he was struck on the back of the shoulder and pulled through. Shoulder to feet he was pulled through the opening...the width of a CD case." The prosecutor said he suffered "life-threatening and life-changing" injuries and his family was told to prepare for the worst.
The court was told he managed to survive the ordeal and went on to make a good recovery, although he still suffers from some physical and emotional problems.
Chris Baranowski, for Compass Engineering, said the firm had spent thousands making sure the machine was now safe and was committed to health and safety at the factory.
James Ageros, for Kaltenbach, the company that commissioned and installed the machine, said senior management expressed deep regret for what happened and it was an "error of judgment" that machine guards were not in place at the time of the accident, but there was an agreement that Compass would do it.
Speaking after the case, Mr Lowe, a father of one, said: "It is a completely different life from what it was. I have suffered a setback in my mental health that has come as a bit of a shock. I still have problems with my right arm and left hip but that is not as bad as being told I might not make it. I still can't believe I'm here. The thought of how close I came to death still haunts me."
After hearing details of the accident, magistrates decided they did not have sufficient powers to sentence and the case was sent to Sheffield Crown Court, where sentencing will take place on June 30.[/quote]
[url]http://uk.news.yahoo.com/firms-plead-guilty-over-accident-160259611.html[/url]
Must have been a drag.
That sounds as absolutely fucking horrifying experience.
Jesus...
[quote]The court was told he managed to survive the ordeal and went on to make a good recovery[/quote]
How the fuck? It sounds like he lost the front and back couple of inches of his body.
Holy fucking shit how did he survive that?
What the fuck. How could you possibly survive getting pulled though a hole that size?
For reference, open your CD/DVD tray guys. That's fucking small.
God damn my morbid curiosity, the NSFW tag made me expect photos.
But holy shit that must have been horrible, I can't imagine what he was feeling while being dragged through that shit, if it reached his head he would have died.
This is just awful! I couldn't imagine something like this ever happening and someone living from it.
heh, reminds me of jumanji when the hunter is sucked back into the game.
How the hell did he survive that?
[i]drr... drr... drr...[/i]
I don't think I can really imagine anything much more horrifying than this.
Oh my god ! Just think what he has had to go through :ohdear:
[QUOTE=Maucer;30221918]Just think what he has had to go through =([/QUOTE]
cant tell if pun intended or not
[QUOTE=Sumap;30221898]How the hell did he survive that?
[i]drr... drr... drr...[/i][/QUOTE]
THIS HOLE WASN'T MADE FOR M-
the gap was 5 inches wide, not 5 x 5 inches square
saying it's a "CD case" is kind of misleading, and the body of the article does only say 5 inches [i]wide[/i]
[QUOTE=Zeke129;30221947]the gap was 5 inches wide, not 5 x 5 inches square
saying it's a "CD case" is kind of misleading, and the body of the article does only say 5 inches [i]wide[/i][/QUOTE]
Still, try squeezing yourself through that.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;30221947]the gap was 5 inches wide, not 5 x 5 inches square
saying it's a "CD case" is kind of misleading, and the body of the article does only say 5 inches [i]wide[/i][/QUOTE]
Doesn't say it isn't 5" tall either. Anyway, he broke pretty much every bone in his body so it doesn't matter.
I'd like surveillance video.
[QUOTE=Hullu V3;30222049]I'd like surveillance video.[/QUOTE]
This, it sounds morbid but god damn am i curious to at least see the machine.
Reminds me of that old video where an engineer was sucked through a jet engine.
Whoa what the fuck, this happened in my town. I hadn't heard about this.