Honda UK fined after Swindon employee loses fingers

Date:

4 February 2013

Release No:

HSE-SW-02

Swindon-based Honda UK has been fined after an employee lost two fingers while polishing a piece of equipment at the plant in South Marston.

Swindon Magistrates' Court heard today (4 February) that 55-year-old Cesar Santos, from Swindon, had been using an emery cloth to polish a metal component as it rotated on a manual lathe on 11 February 2012.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Mr Santos was in the last stages of polishing the component when the glove on his right hand became entangled in the equipment, severing two fingers.

The court was told Mr Santos was being observed by a group of supervisors and management, and was distracted by being asked how much longer he would be.

He was off work for six weeks following the incident before returning to build up to normal duties, but still requires the assistance of colleagues at times.

The HSE investigation found that Honda did not provide a safe system of work and failed to assess the dangers involved in the work Mr Santos was requested to carry out. In addition, the company failed to enforce its own glove policy which indicated gloves should not be worn whilst using machinery.

Honda of the UK Manufacturing Ltd, of Highworth Road, South Marston, Swindon, was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £5,959 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Ian Whittles said:

"This incident could have easily been prevented had there been a safe system of work in place and the company's glove policy had been enforced. Honda clearly failed to ensure the safety of its employees, with painful consequences for Mr Santos.

"If an emery cloth is held by hand and wrapped round a work piece, there is a high risk of it becoming entangled. Wearing gloves also increases the risk of entanglement and for these reasons hand application of emery cloth should be avoided.

"The law clearly states that employers should take all reasonably practicable steps to protect employees from harm arising from their work. In the case of machinery, moving parts that could cause injury should be guarded or made safe so that people cannot come into contact with them.

"In this case, a tool holder could have been used or the component could have been taken off the lathe and polished by hand."

Every year, there are several serious incidents reported involving the use of emery cloths on metalworking lathes, resulting in injuries such as broken bones, amputations and occasionally death. HSE advises that emery cloths should not be applied by hand on manual or CNC lathes.

Further information on the use of emery cloths can be found on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/engineering

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. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 197 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."

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