Firm in court for putting workers at risk28 April 2014

A Tyne and Wear firm has been fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £6,630 in costs for putting workers at risk of serious injury after numerous potentially dangerous machines were found to be poorly guarded.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out an inspection at two premises belonging to floral foam manufacturers Smithers-Oasis UK on the Crowther Industrial Estate, Washington. It followed an incident in which a machine operator suffered a partial amputation of her left middle finger and a broken left index finger while operating a milling machine.

Sunderland Magistrates' Court heard that at the time of the incident, on 9 May 2012, HSE found there were no protective measures in place to stop workers getting too close to a specific dangerous moving part of the milling machine.

After the incident Smithers-Oasis UK did fit guarding to this area, but it was not fully effective and HSE served an enforcement notice requiring the firm to further improve the safety guards, which was complied with.

In October 2012 HSE Inspector Paul Miller carried out a general inspection of the company's Tilley Road and Crowther Road sites and a significant number of machinery guarding defects were identified on several machines.

HSE served another Improvement Notice requiring action where the existing machinery guarding arrangements were found to be deficient. Again, this notice was complied with.

Smithers-Oasis UK, of Crowther Road, Washington, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

HSE inspector Paul Miller said: "For a number of months employees at two sites had been put at risk of serious injuries due to Smithers-Oasis UK Ltd failing to prevent access to dangerous parts on a substantial number of machines. This was despite a worker's injury and visits by HSE.

"These failings could have led to further injuries to workers including cuts, amputations and crush injuries. The company was simply lucky that a more serious incident to the one in May 2012 did not occur.

"Employers must take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery. This will normally be by fixed guarding but where routine access is needed, interlocked guards (sometimes with guard locking) may be needed to stop the movement of dangerous parts before a person can reach the danger zone. Where this is not possible – such as with the blade of a circular saw – it must be guarded as far as is reasonably practicable and a safe system of work used."

Ian Vallely

Related Companies
Health & Safety Executive
Smithers-Oasis UK Ltd

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