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The worker suffered a dislocated elbow, compound fractures to his lower left arm, and had parts of his skin ripped off as he tried to re-thread some wire through a machine block at Betafence Ltd of Shepcote Lane, Sheffield.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that, as the employee leaned into the machine to carry out the task, he may have depressed the start or run switch inadvertently.
The court heard that Betafence Ltd had a system for checking the guards on its machines, but this did not include checking the functioning of interlock switches on moveable guards.
HSE inspector Jill Thompson said the dangers of moving machinery are "well known" in industry and Betafence's management of the risks had "fallen below what is acceptable".
"This is an example of how a simple failure of a safety switch can result in life-changing injuries," she stated.
"Had the company included safety switch checking as part of the guard checking system, this incident would probably have been avoided."
Ms Thompson said prevention of access to moving parts of machinery is "a clear duty" upon employers and includes making sure that safety features of machines are maintained effectively.
Betafence Ltd, which has its headquarters in Belgium, was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £3,762 costs for a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations.
Quantum Risk Management are a leading Health and Safety Consultancy
Fencing firm fined after worker injury in machine block
An international fencing manufacturer has been fined after an employee suffered severe injuries to his arm in a workplace accident.The worker suffered a dislocated elbow, compound fractures to his lower left arm, and had parts of his skin ripped off as he tried to re-thread some wire through a machine block at Betafence Ltd of Shepcote Lane, Sheffield.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that, as the employee leaned into the machine to carry out the task, he may have depressed the start or run switch inadvertently.
The court heard that Betafence Ltd had a system for checking the guards on its machines, but this did not include checking the functioning of interlock switches on moveable guards.
HSE inspector Jill Thompson said the dangers of moving machinery are "well known" in industry and Betafence's management of the risks had "fallen below what is acceptable".
"This is an example of how a simple failure of a safety switch can result in life-changing injuries," she stated.
"Had the company included safety switch checking as part of the guard checking system, this incident would probably have been avoided."
Ms Thompson said prevention of access to moving parts of machinery is "a clear duty" upon employers and includes making sure that safety features of machines are maintained effectively.
Betafence Ltd, which has its headquarters in Belgium, was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £3,762 costs for a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations.
Quantum Risk Management are a leading Health and Safety Consultancy
Posted on 07/02/2012
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