The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently announced that they had successfully prosecuted a Dewsbury woodworker for dangerously allowing access to an guarded circular saw, risking serious injury to himself and an employee.
The employer was fined £4,000 after ignoring two separate Prohibition Notices to stop him using the saw until it was made safe.
Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, provides “Every employer shall ensure that measures are taken which are effective to prevent access to any dangerous part of machinery or to any rotating stock-bar; or to stop the movement of any dangerous part of machinery or rotating stock-bar before any part of a person enters a danger zone.”
Although there are strict laws and regulations designed to protect employees in the workplace, the woodworking industry has one of the highest incident rates in the manufacturing sector, a fifth of which are machinery-related according the latest official figures.
If you have been injured by dangerous machinery or have suffered any injury at work, Gregory Abrams Davidson Solicitors specialise in all areas of Employer’s Liability and can advise you.
