Machinery Dangers
Dec 8, 2010
Three court cases have been reported in the last two weeks involving companies being prosecuted for dangerous failings associated with machinery.
- An Oxfordshire printing firm was fined after a worker was injured when part of his hand was pulled into a printing machine. The worker was clearing jammed booklets from a stacker machine when the machine started up and caught his left thumb between a feeder belt and a roller. His thumb was pulled under the roller and then crushed and cut as the machine started up again. The HSE investigation showed a guard was missing and there was a lack of proper planning for cleaning and maintenance work.
- An agricultural college has been prosecuted for potentially endangering a teenage student. He was able to use a baling machine with no guarding, and the college had not provided adequate training, monitoring and supervision.
- An international frozen food company has been fined after a worker was injured by the moving blades of an industrial freezer. He was clearing ice from the inside of the freezer when a colleague switched it on, not realising he was inside. If a safe system of isolation had been provided that prevented access to dangerous parts of machinery this accident could have been avoided.
Wilby Risk Management recommends a number of safety meaures concerning machinery:-
- Suitable guarding should be in place to enclose dangerous parts as far as is practicable;
- Each machine or type of machine should have a risk assessment in place.
- Risk assessments and safe systems of work should include the processes for cleaning and maintenance of the machine.
- All employees who are to operate or work on the machines should have thorough training in the safe operating procedures and the findings of the risk assessments.
- Training should be recorded and routinely refreshed.
- Management and supervisors should periodically check the safety measures are in place and that safe operating procedures are being followed.
For further information on machinery safety, contact Wilby Risk Management.
