Could facilities management improve firms' health and safety compliance?
May 10th 12:05 Health and Safety
The need for manufacturing firms to comply with health and safety regulations has been highlighted by an incident in Burnley.
A tool manufacturer has been fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of a further £1,000 after a worker lost a finger using machinery he was not trained to operate.
CMA Tools of Westgate, Burnley, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 197 in front of Reedley magistrates.
The court heard how Paul Whittaker lost a finger while using an emery cloth to reduce the size of a metal component on a lathe at the firm's plant.
Commenting on the case, Imran Siddiqui, an inspector from the Health and Safety Executive, said: "Paul Whittaker has been unable to return to work and his injury has significantly affected his ability to grip and lift with his right hand.
"CMA Tools should have provided a safe system of work and the appropriate training for Mr Whittaker. Workers should have been instructed to use a suitable tool to handle emery cloths so that their hands could not become trapped."
