Guards on machinery are vital to safety
A fencing manufacturer has faced a number of setbacks as its employees are left in danger while using their machinery.
The employers liability insurance of Fencing Supplies Ltd has undergone investigation as it was discovered their machinery was dangerous to use.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had allowed guards to be disabled on nine fence cutting machines at its factory, which meant that workers could gain access while they were still operating. Nine Prohibition Notices were served, banning the use of the machines and an Improvement Notice requiring changes to working practice was issued.
At Trafford Magistrates Court, Fencing Supplies Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 by failing to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery. The company was fined £14,000 and ordered to pay £2,774 in costs.
HSE inspector, Mike Lisle said:
“The machines should have automatically shut down before anyone was able to get close to the dangerous parts of the machinery.”
“But as a result of the guards being defeated, the machines continued to operate with workers at risk of coming into contact with moving parts and suffering serious injury.”
“Missing or defective guards on machinery are a common cause of injury in the manufacturing sector. It is only by chance that no one was seriously injured in this case.”
The importance of guards is highlighted as figures show that 35 workers died in the manufacturing industry last year, and 26,000 suffered serious injuries. Constructaquote.com advises that employers’ liability insurance will be a highly advantageous purchase to a company.
