16-05-2008
Accident prompts warning by HSE
News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages.
An accident which resulted in an employee losing his finger has prompted the UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to issue a warning on the dangers of workplace machinery.
Following the accident, which took place in May 2007, the HSE is warning that all workplace machinery risks should be comprehensively assessed, in addition to operating such machinery with safeguards considered to be adequate.
"Allowing machines to be operated without suitable and appropriate guards is ignoring basic safety principles, an act which cannot go unpunished," said Wayne Owen, an investigating inspector with the HSE.
As a consequence of the incident, the firm was found to have breached Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and ordered to pay a fine of £2,000, excluding costs of £2,645.
The HSE operates with the mission "to protect people's health and safety by ensuring risks in the changing workplace are properly controlled".