Employers must carry out regular risk assessments

Posted on October 12^th 2009

Companies are being warned by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that they must ensure their workers safety by carrying out regular risk assessments on machinery.

The warning has been issued following a worker who amputated the tips of her finger whilst cleaning out a machine at a food factory in Oxford. The icing machine required a clean so the cleaner put her hands inside to get right to the bottom, not realising that there was a large revolving screw, taking off the ends of two fingers on her left hand.

A speaker for the HSE commented that these kinds of accidents can be avoided if companies carry out the necessary risk assessments and employees are aware of the dangers of the machines that they are using. Modifications could also be made to those machines that carry dangers, such as sharp objects to avoid any danger to workers.

Spread Newco Four were charged £6,000 for breaching health and safety regulations. Costs of £2,751 were also fined to the company.

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