Corus accepts blame for worker's injury

Corus has admitted breaches of major health and safety legislation following an accident last February in which an employee sustained a serious injury and subsequently lost part of his leg.

The accident occurred at the Port Talbot steel plant as Michael Davies attempted to clean sensors on a robotic tracked rubble carrier, a task that was necessary because the carrier came to a halt when the sensors became too dirty to function.

While he was doing this the carrier moved, trapping the 32-year-old's leg. An emergency stop switch was pressed but it didn't work.

An investigation revealed serious defects in the equipment which was inadequately maintained. No safe system of work was being implemented in relation to cleaning the equipment.

Corus admitted breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Sections 5(1) and 18(1) of The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998 at Neath magistrates court. The case will now go to Swansea Crown court for sentencing.