Engineering firm fined for safety breaches

Date:

2 November 2011

Release No:

COISE/0211

A precision engineering company has been fined for failing to prevent access to dangerous parts on one of its machines, even after several warnings at its site in Hailsham, East Sussex.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Metaltech Precision Engineers Ltd for failing to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery or stop the movement of dangerous parts of machinery before it could be accessed by any person at its Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining centre facility in Diplocks Way, Hailsham, East Sussex.

Eastbourne Magistrates' Court heard that on 12 December 2006, Metaltech was issued with an instant visit report following an HSE inspection which found the interlocks guarding a CNC milling machine had been disabled. On 31 March 2009, an unannounced inspection once again found that interlocking guards had been disabled and the firm was served with an Improvement Notice that required the introduction of a monitoring system to ensure that the interlocks on the machines were working.

During an unannounced inspection on the 23 June 2011, the HSE inspector witnessed that an interlocking guard on a machine had again been disabled and the system put in place to monitor them was not being followed. A Prohibition Notice was served.

HSE's Inspector David Swaite said:

"All companies have a legal duty to ensure they take robust measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery.

"The disabled interlock meant that Metaltech had provided no effective measures to prevent employees from being exposed to risks of crushing and entanglement on the CNC machine. This could have resulted in an employee sustaining serious injuries or worse. This company was given ample guidance and opportunity to protect the safety of their workers and prevent legal action, but failed to do so.

"It is vital for employers to ensure that they have prevented access to dangerous parts of machinery and have effective supervision and monitoring systems to ensure that risk control measures are being followed."

Metaltech Precision Engineers Ltd, of Diplocks Way, Hailsham, East Sussex, pleaded guilty to an offence under 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The firm was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,978.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Offence 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states: "It is an offence to contravene any health and safety regulations or any requirement or prohibition imposed under any such regulations (including any requirement or prohibition to which he is subject by virtue of the terms of or any condition or restriction attached to any licence, approval, exemption or other authority issued, given or granted under the regulations)
3. Information on risk assessments can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/casestudies/index.htm

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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News & PR South East