Unguarded drill lands manufacturer £8,000 fine
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A Cardiff manufacturer has been fined £8,000 after a worker broke his wrist when his glove was caught in an unguarded drill.
Elmatic (Cardiff) Ltd had allowed the employee to carry out the work without any formal training, Cardiff Magistrates Court heard.
Lee Baker, 21, fractured his wrists in two places and needed to have plates inserted. He was using a pillar drill that lacked an appropriate guard when the incident occurred, the Health and Safety Executive said.
Elmatic (Cardiff) Ltd had been warned on two previous occasion over ensuring drills were properly guarded, the HSE added.
HSE inspector, Hugh Emment said: ""HSE has warned this company before about not providing suitable guards on drills of this type, and while they did initially heed these warnings, the safety standards were not maintained."
Emment added: "Mr Baker had not been trained to use this drill, nor had he been told about the dangers of wearing gloves while using drills. This is a well known risk in the manufacturing industry, and it resulted in a serious injury to Mr Baker."
Elmatic (Cardiff) Ltd, registered to Wyndham Crescent, Canton, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to a charge under Regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
