Industry news
Firm fined over unguarded drill
Posted Tue, 26 Jun 2012
A manufacturing company from Cardiff has been fined £15,000 after one of its workers lost the tip of his finger while operating an unguarded drill.
The incident occurred on 26 April 2011 when Vaughan Thomas, 21, from Caerphilly was working at the MIB Manufacturing Ltd factory on the Rising Sun Industrial Estate, Blaina.
The injury to Mr Thomas happened during his first time working at the factory. He had been operating the drill unguarded and without any information, instruction or training. During the drilling he lost the top of his right ring finger - down to the first knuckle - after his glove got caught in the bit.
The company, which is now known as Blaina Manufacturing Ltd, of Rhymney River Bridge Road, Cardiff, was prosecuted following a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation. The HSE found that the company had failed to protect workers from dangerous machinery.
As well as the £15,000 fine, MIB Manufacturing Ltd was asked to pay costs of £9,947, and £3,000 in compensation, after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
Copyright Press Association 2012