HC Deb 20 November 1991 vol 199 cc213-4W
Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 11 November,Official Report, column 411, on the accident at the Ambrosia creamery, Lifton, Devon on 28 November 1990, what consideration was given to the statements taken by the employer from witnesses during the course of their investigation before reaching the conclusion about the possibility of determining responsibility for the damaged guard mechanism.

Mr. Jackson

In coming to a conclusion about the appropriate action to be taken after determination of the extent of responsibility for the damaged guard mechanism, the Health and Safety Executive took full account of the statements taken by the employer from witnesses during the course of the company's own investigation.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 11 November,Official Report, column 411, if he will list the people interviewed by the inspector when carrying out the investigation into the accident on 28 November 1990, at the Ambrosia creamery, Lifton, Devon; and what positions in the company they occupied.

Mr. Jackson

The information requested cannot be provided. It is not the policy of the Health and Safety Executive to disclose such information without the knowledge and consent of those individuals concerned.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 11 November, Official Report, column 411, what examination the Health and Safety Executive has made of the reason why an interlock switch was originally fitted to the hinged door to ensure that the conveyor was switched off whenever the door was open on the machinery in the accident on 28 November 1990, at the Ambrosia creamery, Lifton, Devon.

Mr. Jackson

The Health and Safety Executive inspector who investigated the accident on 28 November 1990 at Ambrosia creamery questioned the management team about the origins of the machine. He learned that it had been supplied from Germany without guarding at the cup feed point and that management considered that an interlocked guard should be fitted to prevent access to the feed mechanism while the power to the machine was switched on.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 11 November,Official Report, column 411, in connection with the accident at the Ambrosia creamery, Lifton, Devon, on 28 November 1990, for what period the interlocking switch which was fitted to the hinged door on the conveyor was out of action; whether the machine was made to operate after the switch was inoperative; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson

The information available to the Health and Safety Executive investigation indicated that the door became unhinged during the early shift on 21 November 1990. As a consequence the door interlocking switch had been put out of action to allow the machine to operate without it. HSE established that a temporary repair was made during the same shift to restore operation of the interlock switch but this repair failed at a time and date which has not been possible precisely to ascertain.