A worker has been seriously injured after having their hand caught in a metalworking lathe.
The accident occurred when an employee of Martland Rollers Limited had been smoothing down a part turning in a lathe with an emery cloth. He was wearing a glove which then got pulled into the machine drawing in his arm which led to breaks, lacerations and nerve damage.
The employee was going through a trial period which was then expected to lead to a permanent position with Martland Rollers Limited.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had not carried out a suitable risk assessment and did not provide adequate training or supervision to prevent the new employee engaging in such a dangerous work activity.
Martland Rollers Limited of Merseyside was fined £13,300 with costs of £3,284 after pleading guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
HSE inspector Roger Clarke commented that:
"This injury was entirely preventable if the risk had been identified and suitable control measures put in place. Adequate training and supervision should also have been in place to ensure the machine was being used safely by newer operatives."
