Businesses have been warned by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to make sure that moving machinery is properly guarded, following the prosecution of a Rochdale company after an incident in which an employee received serious injuries. Newhey Carpets Ltd of Gordon Street, Newhey, Rochdale, were fined a total of £2,924 after pleading guilty to a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) SI 1998/2306.
The prosecution arose from an incident on 24 August 2006 in which the main operator of a carpet-beaming machine became entangled in the revolving machinery. She suffered a dislocated and broken shoulder, a gashed arm and multiple bruising because the guarding around the machinery was not fixed or interlocked and the trip wire was not in the correct position.
HSE inspector Richard Clarke commented, "After the incident, the employees jacket was found caught in a projecting large metal pin attached to the machinery. Her injuries were serious enough, but the consequences could have been far worse. This case graphically illustrates that companies should ensure that all their machinery is adequately guarded for the safety of all employees."
