"Foundry prosecuted after worker severely-injured by bench drill"

The hazard involved with pedestal drills is often overlooked in our industry. Here is a recent incident emphasizing the potential hazard with this type of machinery.

A foundry based in England has been fined after a part-time machinist suffered life-changing injuries whilst drilling holes into aluminium castings.

The local heard how, in February 2017, the worker was working at the foundry wearing heavy duty gloves as specified by company policy, when her hand came into contact with a moving drill bit. The worker’s hand became entangled with the machinery resulting in severe tendon injuries, and the partial de-gloving and severing of the left thumb.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the foundry, had neither a safe system of work in place for employees using the drilling and tapping machines, nor Employers Compulsory Liability Insurance at the time of the incident. In addition, the incident was not reported to HSE but brought to HSE’s attention in September 2017 by a third party.

A foundry employee (possible owner) pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Regulation 4(1)(b) of the Reporting of Injuries, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 and breaching Regulation 1(1) of the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations 1998. The individual has been sentenced to a community order of 120 hours of unpaid work and fined £300.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by implementing appropriate control measures and safe working practices.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards”.

We pray that the worker recovers fully from their injuries. There are many key points in the article above worth discussing. They are:

1.   Wrong gloves used for the specific operation

a.    We commonly see this that companies will require one type of glove for multiple processes even if the glove is not recommend.

b.   The APSB has posted similar incidents where too thick of gloves were

2.   Did not have a proper safe system for using the machinery in place

a.    We assume that is both a written procedure and the installation of any engineering controls to prevent this from occurring

3.   The foundry did not have the proper insurance.

a.    Resulting in an individual being fined and having to perform 120 hours of community service.

Please comment.