09/11/2010 - Firm fined after machine cuts hand
An aeroplane manufacturing company has been fined £8,000 after an employee's hand was badly injured by machinery.
Callender (Lancashire) Aeropart Ltd of Metcalf Drive in Altham, Lancashire, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for the incident on July 17, 2009.
The 28-year-old worker from Oswaldtwistle, who has asked not to be named, was working at the company's site on Altham Industrial Estate.
Accrington Magistrates' Court heard how the man had been using a milling machine to cut a metal fan part for a jet engine. When he reached across to pick up the metal, his hand came in to contact with the blade, which was still moving.
The employee severed a tendon, broke his little finger and badly cut his ringer on his left hand. An operation was needed to reattach the tendon, and movement was only regained in his little finger after physiotherapy.
The cutting tool on the machine was not fitted with a guard, despite the issue being raised in a risk assessment carried out by the company 16 months earlier.
Callender (Lancashire) Aeropart Ltd admitted breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 by failing to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery.
The company was also ordered to pay £3,996 towards the cost of the prosecution.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
Related links
|
