Cutting machine injury highlights importance of guarding

An employers’ liability insurance holder has been prosecuted after a worker was injured by a machine.

Rolf Weber was working for lighting company Fineline. He had sustained minor head injuries after going into a working area of a machine to remove a finished work piece of which he inadvertently hit his head on the cutter, which was rotating at 18,000rpm.

Darren Wing, trading as Fineline appeared at Weston-Super-Mare Magistrates’ Court putting the lives of his employees at risk by not properly guarding the machinery.

He has pleaded guilty to regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. He was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £1,800 in costs.

Christine Haberfield, HSE Inspector said:

“It is vital that dangerous machinery is properly safeguarded.”

“In this case, the cutting area should have been enclosed with doors that were linked to the operation of the machine to prevent anybody going into the danger area while the machine was running. People can help prevent similar incidents by checking machinery safeguards regularly, to make sure that they are still working correctly.”

More than 3.2 million people are employed in the manufacturing industry. It is important for companies to minimise risk as much as possible by safely operating and guarding machinery. Undoubtedly, accidents happen but this can be protected by employers’ liability insurance.