An engineering firm has been fined after a worker’s hand got caught in an unguarded drilling machine.
The incident took place at B&B Ltd’s factory on Dobson Parkway in Ince, Lancashire on 24 September 2009. A 46-year-old worker, who wishes not to be named, was using an industrial drilling machine to drill holes in an iron bar.
In order to move the piece of metal into a different position the worker switched off the drill, but it took 30 seconds to stop, the court heard. As he reached across to switch the machine back on, the drill was still moving and the glove on his right hand got caught in the rotating mechanism, which pulled his hand into the machine. His index finger was severed below the first joint, his middle finger was badly cut, and his ring finger was dislocated.
HSE inspector Adam McMahon, revealed the incident could have been avoided if the machine had a guard around the blade to prevent access to dangerous parts. He said: “A worker has suffered a life-long injury to his right hand because B&B Group did not make sure basic health and safety measures were in place at its Wigan factory.
“If there had been a guard around the rotating drill at the factory then the worker’s injuries would almost certainly have been avoided. This case highlights how important it is for manufacturers to make sure the health and safety of staff is their top priority.”
B&B Ltd appeared in court on 21 January and pleaded guilty to breaching reg.11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, for failing to take measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery. It was fined £12,500 and ordered to pay costs of £1703. The company had no previous convictions.
Following the hearing, Inspector McMahon added: “Manufacturers who fail to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery are breaking the law and we will continue to take enforcement action against them.”
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