Heavy fine for company after employee loses finger on poorly guarded spindle moulder

A Norwich building company has been fined after an employee lost a finger on a poorly guarded machine.

The worker, who does not wish to be named, was operating a vertical spindle moulding machine to cut a groove in a straight piece of wood when his right hand came into contact with the cutter, severing the little finger.

The company was prosecuted on 22 May by the HSE after an investigation established the incident, on 17 December 2012, could easily have been prevented had better guarding been in place.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard there was also inadequate management and supervision of the way the work on the machine was being carried out.

The company, which does not belong to the BWF, was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £4,750 costs after pleading guilty to a single breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

Section 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 states: “Every employer shall ensure that measures are taken in accordance with paragraph (2) which are effective: (a) to prevent access to any dangerous part of machinery or to any rotating stock-bar; or (b) to stop the movement of any dangerous part of machinery or rotating stock-bar before any part of a person enters a danger zone.”

After the case, HSE Inspector Malcolm Crowther said:

“The worker suffered a painful and needless injury that could easily have been avoided had there been proper safeguards and management supervision of the way work was being carried out on this machine.

“It is vital that operatives of such machines are properly trained and adequately supervised to ensure safe systems of work are used. The company failed in their duty of care, despite there being industry training available from a number of providers.”

The safety of your workers is of prime importance. The BWF's comprehensive 91 page Guide to Health and Safety in the woodworking industry includes guidance on young persons in the workplace and with HSE recovering costs at a rate of £1000/day for inspections during which a breach is found, BWF has prepared a number of resources to help you mitigate Health and Safety risk such as:

– A 12 point ‘Health and Safety: the essentials’ checklist to help prevent you getting caught out and advice on what HSE field inspectors are looking for in our Health and Safety publications.

– Our selection of woodworking machinery safety cards, including a vertical spindle moulder

– Health and Safety training – including machine refresher training, Health & Safety management qualifications and more.

– As a member you can also ring our Health and Safety helpline on 0844 209 2610.

Look out for our brand new 'BWF Health & Safety Hero' campaign to achieve zero tolerance in respect of fatal injuries, RIDDOR related incidents and occupational ill health incidents in the woodworking industry.