Manufacturer fined as worker nearly loses finger
February 26th 15:24 Health and Safety
The need for effective facilities management in the manufacturing sector in order to comply with health and safety regulations has been highlighted by an incident in Shropshire.
Oswestry-based firm Richard Burbidge Ltd was fined £5,000 by Kidderminster Magistrates after a worker suffered multiple hand injuries from a rotating rear cutter.
The firm pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 11(1) of the Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 after a Health and Safety Execuvitve (HSE) investigation revealed that a guard had not been fitted to the machine.
HSE inspector Grayam Barnes said: "This employee was extremely lucky not to lose a finger or a hand. Richard Burbidge Ltd should have ensured this piece of equipment, with sharp, fast-moving parts, had safety guards in place.
"Other issues were also identified with the machinery. The rundown time, where it slows down to a stop, was far too long at nearly half a minute, making it difficult to stop it in an emergency."
The company was also ordered to pay £5,842 in court costs.
