Komatsu UK fined after worker’s fingers severed
KOMATSU UK Ltd have been fined £6,000 following an incident in which an employee had two fingers severed when his hand became caught in a drilling machine he was operating at the company’s excavator manufacturing facility in Birtley, Tyne & Wear.
John Watson, who was drilling holes in steel plates when his right hand became caught in the rotating parts of the machine, needed surgery to completely amputate his third finger and the middle finger between the first and second knuckle. He also had a bone removed from his hand.
Mr Watson has been employed by Komatsu for nearly 20 years but has been unable to return to work since the incident on 23 June 2009.
Consett Magistrates’ Court heard that investigations by the Health and Safety Executive, who brought the prosecution, revealed that use of the drill was not part of Mr Watson’s normal work, but at the time of the incident he had been asked to make some storage racking for the factory.
The investigation also found that, at the time of the incident, there was no guard on the drill to prevent access to the rotating parts and it was not the first time the drill had been used without a guard.
The gloves that Mr Watson was wearing became entangled with the machine and drew his hand into the rotating parts. He had not received training in the use of the drill and the precautions needed to reduce the risk of entanglement.
Komatsu UK Ltd pleaded guilty of one breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,421.
Speaking after the case, HSE Inspector Zoe Feather said: ‘This was an entirely preventable incident that has left Mr Watson with permanent injuries. The risks from drilling machines are well known. If a suitable guard had been fitted to the machine Mr Watson could not have become entangled.
‘Also, the wearing of gloves greatly increased the risk of entanglement and was likely to have contributed to the severity of Mr Watson’s injuries. The increased risk from the wearing of gloves at drilling machines is well documented.
‘It is vital employers give their workers the necessary information, instruction and training in order that they understand the risks in using drilling machines and how to operate them safely.’
John Watson, who was drilling holes in steel plates when his right hand became caught in the rotating parts of the machine, needed surgery to completely amputate his third finger and the middle finger between the first and second knuckle. He also had a bone removed from his hand.
Mr Watson has been employed by Komatsu for nearly 20 years but has been unable to return to work since the incident on 23 June 2009.
Consett Magistrates’ Court heard that investigations by the Health and Safety Executive, who brought the prosecution, revealed that use of the drill was not part of Mr Watson’s normal work, but at the time of the incident he had been asked to make some storage racking for the factory.
The investigation also found that, at the time of the incident, there was no guard on the drill to prevent access to the rotating parts and it was not the first time the drill had been used without a guard.
The gloves that Mr Watson was wearing became entangled with the machine and drew his hand into the rotating parts. He had not received training in the use of the drill and the precautions needed to reduce the risk of entanglement.
Komatsu UK Ltd pleaded guilty of one breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,421.
Speaking after the case, HSE Inspector Zoe Feather said: ‘This was an entirely preventable incident that has left Mr Watson with permanent injuries. The risks from drilling machines are well known. If a suitable guard had been fitted to the machine Mr Watson could not have become entangled.
‘Also, the wearing of gloves greatly increased the risk of entanglement and was likely to have contributed to the severity of Mr Watson’s injuries. The increased risk from the wearing of gloves at drilling machines is well documented.
‘It is vital employers give their workers the necessary information, instruction and training in order that they understand the risks in using drilling machines and how to operate them safely.’
