HSE: Machinery must be adequately guarded

Employers must ensure machinery to be used by the workforce is properly guarded to protect their health and safety, one organisation has warned.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) made the statement following the prosecution of Ammeraal Beltech and production operative Graham Parker after an employee lost his hand in an accident.

Both parties pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, with the company ordered to pay a total of £21,143.20 in fines and costs.

Mr Parker was given a conditional discharge and a bill of £500 to cover costs.

Paul Yeadon, the HSE's inspector, claimed both parties failed to act on information they had been given regarding the lack of protection on the machinery which led to the accident.

"Mr Parker had been made aware, before the incident, of the absence of a guard on the mixer … the employer, Ammeraal Beltech, also failed to protect the health and safety of its workers," he said.

Legislation governing the use of workplace devices are the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment regulations, according to the HSE.