The importance of guarding dangerous machinery

The HSE has warned employers to ensure machinery is operated safely after a Newcastle company was fined for an incident in which a worker lost his wedding ring finger.

British Engines Ltd employee Leslie Anderson suffered severe lacerations to his left hand when it came in contact with a cutting disc on 8 February 2006. The company pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,514.

The incident happened when Anderson was trimming the edges of a docking cylinder using a swing arm cutter; during this his left hand came into contact with the cutting disc. He suffered severe lacerations and was taken to hospital, where his wedding ring finger was amputated.

HSE Inspector Andrew Mulligan says:

"Employers must ensure that machinery is operated to a safe system of work that employees are made fully aware of, and that all dangerous moving parts are guarded as far as practicable. If this had of been the case here Mr. Anderson would not have suffered such a horrific injury".

When it comes to guarding dangerous machinery, HSE guidance lists a number of things to remember.

• Use fixed guards wherever possible, properly fastened in place with screws or nuts and bolts which need tools to remove them.
• If employees need regular access to parts of the machine and a fixed guard is not possible, use an interlocked guard for those parts. This will ensure that the machine cannot start before the guard is closed and will stop if the guard is opened while the machine is operating.
• In some cases, e.g. on guillotines, devices such as photoelectric systems or automatic guards may be used instead of fixed or interlocked guards; check that guards are convenient to use and not easy to defeat, otherwise they may need modifying.
• Think about the best materials for guards – plastic may be easy to see through, but can be easily scratched or damaged. If wire mesh or similar materials are used, make sure the holes are not large enough to allow access to the danger area. As well as preventing such access, a guard may also be used to prevent harmful fluids, dust etc. from escaping; make sure the guards allow the machine to be cleaned and maintained safely.
• Where guards cannot give full protection, use jigs, holders, push sticks etc. to move the workpiece.

Further information can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg229.pdf.