Safety Signs News

Hammer worker's hand injury highlights safety sign importance

15th March 2010 | Health and Safety Signs

A Solihull-based hammer firm has been fined £2,500 after one of its workers suffered severe hand injuries, it has been confirmed.

The man was forced to miss work for a month after his right hand was caught in an industrial drill belonging to Thor Hammer Company, highlighting the importance of safety signs.

After pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, the firm was fined and ordered to pay £2,594 in costs.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Clive Neil explained that the man was operating an unguarded pedestal drilling machine when his glove became trapped in one of the rotating spindles.

He said: "Once again we have an incident of an employee who suffered serious injury simply because there wasn't the necessary protection around the drill.

"This offence is all the more serious because the company had received previous advice from HSE about the need to guard its drilling machines but did not do it."

Last week, the HSE launched a new campaign designed to encourage bosses to involve their employees in health and safety decision-making.

Posted by Nicole Stevens ADNFCR-2754-ID-19668778-ADNFCR