Recent prosecutions: Company fined £28,000 for poor machinery practices

A manufacturing company has received a £28,000 fine for failing to protect workers from machinery risks. The financial penalty follows an accident that broke an employee's right arm and hand in six places, requiring surgery and an extended recuperation period. The worker was removing debris from the bed of a radial arm drill when his hand became trapped in the machine.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed that the manufacturing business neglected to suitably assess the risks of the task and did not implement a safe system of work.

Reducing machinery risks in your business

• Include machinery and safety guards in your overall risk assessment process.
• Use your risk assessment to create a safe system of work (SSOW) with clear, step-by-step guidance.
• Implement a regular machinery maintenance programme to keep equipment in good working order.
• Perform pre-use checks before every task to spot and fix signs of wear and tear.
• Train workers on machinery operation and provide refresher modules when necessary.
• Take a zero-tolerance stance on tampering with or removing safety guards.
• Display signage outlining machinery hazards and the correct procedures for dealing with them.
• Educate staff on emergency stop controls and ensure your entire team is aware of accident response procedures.