News

A worker injured while clearing a jam in the production line

An employee of Corus UK Ltd was working on the mill floor where steel is rolled into long beams. He was attempting to clear a jam in a machine, which requires an operator activating controls above the mill floor. The operator was unable to see the worker and so instructions were relayed via a third man using a combination of hand signals and shouting. Mr Harrison was struck by moving machinery, severely injuring his right leg.

After the case, HSE Inspector Bruno Porter, explained:

"This incident could have easily been avoided, but instead has left Mr Harrison with a badly injured leg for which he still needs medical help.

"Our investigations found that relaying instructions through another person was common practice on the mill floor, as radios were not always available and the noise in the factory made them hard to use.

"Despite the fact that clearing jams in machinery was a common operation, there was no record of a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for this activity and no recorded safe system of work in place."

Posted on 03/03/2010

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