Machine Guarding Injury Costs UK Company $16,000
The agency's inspectors told a court the injuries could have been prevented if the drill was guarded and if the worker had not been wearing gloves, a suitable and sufficient risk assessment had been completed to identify required control measures, and the worker had received proper training.
A welding company located in England's West Midlands has been fined $13,078 and ordered to pay about $2,800 in costs after admitting to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in connection with a worker's severe injury, the Health & Safety Executive reported Sept. 15.
Deimantas Beinoras, 23, was injured while working for KV Welding Limited, which manufactures equipment for the material handling and logistics sector. He was operating a pedestal drilling machine to drill holes into box section tubing and was adjusting the work piece when his gloved hand became tangled in the unguarded drill bit. His arm was pulled around the drill, breaking two bones in his right forearm and causing injuries that required a skin graft, according to HSE.
The agency's inspectors told a court the injuries could have been prevented if the drill was guarded and if Beinoras had not been wearing gloves, a suitable and sufficient risk assessment had been completed to identify required control measures, and the worker had received proper training.
"It is vital that companies understand the importance of using suitable guarding when employees are operating drilling machines as there are significant risks involved which may lead to serious personal injury. Other simple measures, such as not wearing gloves, can be taken to eliminate the risk of entanglement involved with operating drilling machines or any other machinery with moving/rotating parts," said Richard Littlefair, the HSE inspector.