Buzz Gnosis

Principal investigators working on a case where an employee was killed while using machinery pointed out that sometimes simple and low-cost safety measures are all it takes to ensure safety of workers.

An accident, which occurred in September 2006 in a rice silo, made HSE to highlight this point. Employee Balwinder Singh Aulkh, who was working for Veetee Rice Ltd, sustained grievous injuries at his workplace owing to his leg getting caught in a conveyor belt. The injuries he sustained were serious enough to cause his death.

HSE investigators found that the company had failed to restrict access to dangerous parts of the machinery by erecting barriers or fencing. It also did not have any system to ensure that moving parts were halted or disconnected before employees went into the risk area.

Speaking about the incident and subsequent investigations, HSE Principal Inspector Mike Walters said that the employee’s safety could have been ensured if a small provision for securing the hatch that provided access to the silo had been installed. Otherwise, a provision for restricting access unless the conveyor belt was disconnected should have been put in place. As neither had been done, the employees were exposed to high risk.

A fine of £140,000 plus costs of £20,500 were imposed on the company for breach of health and safety regulations by Maidstone Crown Court authorities. Walters hopes that the fine and costs will act as reminder to other companies to review safety measures.

The NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health is a qualification designed to help those with health and safety responsibilities to carry out their duties at work more effectively and to protect the organisations for which they work. Take a look at the course details for more information, and to make sure you are aware of your responsibilities as an employer to keep you employees safe and protected.