An investigation has been launched after a man’s arm was crushed in a machine at a West Yorkshire recycling centre.
A two-hour operation was carried out to free the man after his arm was trapped between large rollers on a polystyrene baler at Logicare, on Tyler Close, Normanton, shortly after 9am yesterday. (Feb 19)
Firefighters from Castleford and Normanton were joined by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s technical rescue team from Cleckheaton to dismantle the machine.
They had to cut through steel shafts to release him.
A doctor was on-site throughout the operation and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance was called, but the man was taken to Pinderfields Hospital by road ambulance.
He was seriously injured, but his condition was not thought to be life threatening.
A spokeswoman for the company, which is a division of the WasteCare Group, said: “The company are carrying out a full investigation into how the accident occurred. Further details will be given in due course.”
Wakefield Council confirmed it would also investigate.
Andrew Balchin, corporate director for communities, said: “Officers from the council’s environmental health service are on site and will be carrying out a full health and safety investigation into the incident.”