Keep your guard up, warns health and safety body

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned manufacturers to ensure that their machinery is properly guarded after it prosecuted Weetabix when an employee at the firm’s Kettering factory lost his fingertips.

The employee was injured when he tried to clear a rotary valve blockage while operating machinery on August 23 2006. He was exposed to moving parts of the valve and caught his hand in the machine, which resulted in the loss of his fingertips.

HSE inspector Peter Snelgrove said: “This incident has resulted in a worker suffering a significant hand injury which could have been avoided. Weetabix should have ensured that the machinery was adequately guarded. There is plenty of advice and guidance available to help employers meet their legal responsibilities and keep their workers safe.”

Weetabix, of Burton Latimer near Kettering, was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay £1,490.40 costs at Kettering Magistrates Court last Friday, after pleading guilty to breaching Reg 11 (1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment for failure to prevent access to a dangerous machinery part.

For further information on working safely with machinery visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/equipment/index.htm​