R.Briggs Sheetmetal Fabrication Ltd, a company specialising in manufacturing canopies and ventilation ducting, has been fined after an apprentice’s finger was crushed in the rotating parts of a machine
On 14 October 2019 Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how an apprentice was instructed on how to operate a swaging machine – this consisted of two rotating wheels controlled by a foot pedal, used to put a groove around a ducting tube.
After carrying the process out on four pieces of tubing, the apprentice was then left on their own, unsupervised which led to them getting their glove caught in the rotating wheels of the machine. On releasing the foot pedal, the wheels took a few seconds to stop, drawing the apprentice’s hand between them.
The apprentice suffered from a crushed fingertip and a fracture. They were unable to work for two months.
Guilty of breaching Section 2 (1)
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation and found that the company had not performed a risk assessment for using the machine or implemented any safe systems of work.
They also did not provide staff with adequate training or assess the additional risks presented by a young, inexperienced person and being unaware of existing or potential risks.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, was fined £13,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,682.
HSE inspector Leanne Ratcliffe said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided. Employers should ensure they carry out an assessment of the risks and put in safe system of works for the operation of all machinery.
“Companies should be aware of their responsibility to recognise the way in which their employees are working. Employers should also be aware of the use of gloves when operating machinery where there is a risk of entanglement.”
