Colne firm slapped with fine after apprentice gets hand trapped in rotating machine

The apprentice used the machinery after being instructed by a fellow apprentice and trainee whilst unsupervised

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A manufacturing company in Colne has been forced to fork out over £15,000 after one of its apprentices trapped his hand while using machinery unsupervised.

R.Briggs Sheetmetal Fabrication Ltd based on Bond Street was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) highlighting shortfalls in the company's training process which contributed to the incident.

On October 14 2019, an apprentice working at the company was told by another apprentice and a trainee on how to operate a swaging machine.

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Specialising in in manufacturing canopies and ventilation ducting, the machine is typically used with ducting tubes.

The swaging machine used by the apprentice consisted of two rotating wheels controlled by a foot pedal, used to put a groove around a ducting tube.

Whilst unsupervised, the apprentice carried out this process out on approximately four pieces of tubing which is when the fabric safety glove they were wearing got caught in the rotating wheels of the machine.

Although the foot pedal was released, the wheels took a few seconds to stop, drawing the apprentice's hand between them, crushing their fingertip and causing a fracture.

As a result of the incident the worker was unable to work for two months.

During the investigation, the HSE found that the company had not performed a risk assessment for using the machine or implemented any safe systems of work.

This included not recognising that the gloves presented a drawing-in and entanglement hazard on that machine.

They did not provide staff with adequate training or assess the additional risks presented by a young, inexperienced person working with machinery and being unaware of existing or potential risks.

The company has pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £13,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,682.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Leanne Ratcliffe said: "This incident could so easily have been avoided. Employers should ensure they carry out an assessment of the risks and put in safe system of works for the operation of all machinery.

"Companies should be aware of their responsibility to recognise the way in which their employees are working. Employers should also be aware of the use of gloves when operating machinery where there is a risk of entanglement."

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