Workers fingers severed by machine
The employers’ liability insurance of a packaging company may not be in a healthy situation following an incident that left a worker without the tips of her fingers.
Editha Bayliss was working for Sirane Ltd operating a guillotine when she put her hand under the guard of the machine in an attempt to clear a blockage from the cutting area, while the machine was still running.
The cutting blade came down before Ms Bayliss' cleared her hand away, severing the tips of two of her fingers. The fingers were surgically amputated down to the first joint later in hospital.
After the incident, the health and safety executive (HSE) issued the company with a prohibition notice, which required operation of the machinery to stop until it was made safe.
At Telford Magistrates Court, Sirane Ltd was found guilty of breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. Itwas fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £2,083 in costs.
HSE inspector, Katharine Walker said:
“This incident was entirely preventable. The company's risk assessment, carried out four months before the incident, had identified the need for improved guarding on this machine.”
“However, the company failed to implement this, and knowingly allowed the machine to be used with inadequate safeguards. The poor standard of guarding on this machine led directly to Editha's debilitating injuries.”
Constructaquote.com advises that firms purchase employers liability insurance to protect against any accidents that might occur.
Additional reading:
Quick guide to employers liability insurance
