Will finger loss inspire firms to use facilities management health and safety processes?
July 14th 16:20 Health and Safety
UK businesses could be inspired to adopt facilities management health and safety processes following an incident in Wales.
Encon Engineering, a Caerphilly-based firm, has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a worker suffered a serious hand injury at its Bartlett Street premises.
Caerphilly Magistrates' Court was told how Rhys Davies had to have three fingers reattached after catching his hand on a machine used to mill titanium plates.
An HSE investigation revealed that the machine in question was not properly guarded.
The company was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay a further £2,000 after pleading guilty to a charge under Regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
HSE inspector Steve Curry said: "Mr Davies' injuries were horrific and unnecessary - the incident could have easily been prevented had the machine been properly guarded.
"Employers have a legal duty to ensure that when employees are working with machinery, adequate guarding is provided to prevent workers being injured."
