Untrained worker crushes hand in rolling machine
Jan 1, 2010
The injured man was working as a welder at a factory when the incident occurred. On this day there was no welding work available so he was asked to operate a three-roll bending machine.
This was the first time that the worker had used the machine and he had not been fully trained in how to use it.
The worker was initially supervised while using the machine but, after a few minutes, was left to operate it on his own. He was still wearing gauntlet gloves, suitable for welding, when his left glove became caught in the machine’s rollers and his hand was drawn into the machine. He tripped the kick bar at the foot of the machine, in order to deactivate the device, but the machine did not stop immediately and pulled his hand for a further 20cm.
As a result of the accident he suffered multiple fractures to all four fingers, while one side of his thumb was split open to the bone. The injuries were so severe that the tip of his little figure had to be amputated. He has been unable to return to work since and is still receiving medical treatment.
His employer pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £5,000 with costs of £2,380.
This debilitating injury could have been avoided if the company had a safe system of work in place. The worker should have been given training on how to use the machine, and the company should also have ensured that the machine stopped immediately when the emergency trip device was activated.
