The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a machine company based in Cornwall, after safety lapses repeatedly put its workers at risk of serious injury.

Specialist boring equipment manufacturer, Rigibore Ltd – of Guildford Industrial Estate in Venton League, Hayle – had previously been served with an Improvement Notice following safety fears about machine guards. Rigibore Ltd initially complied with the notice, but other offences were committed afterwards that involved failing to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery, which put workers at risk of serious injury.

HSE inspectors visited the company’s premises at Guildford Industrial Estate in December 2008 and found machinery without safety guards or a power cut off device to automatically stop the machine in the event of someone being dragged into it.

On Thursday (01/04/10) at Camborne Magistrates’ Court, Rigibore Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The company was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £3,419.50 costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Jo Fitzgerald said that Rigibore Ltd had put its employees at serious risk of having their hands or arms caught in machines – which could have caused ‘all manner of horrific injuries’.

‘It’s extremely disappointing that, after complying with an Improvement Notice, Rigibore was again found in breach of Health and Safety regulations during a later visit,’ said Ms Fitzgerald.

‘The company had not managed health and safety as they should have and standards of machinery safeguarding were completely unacceptable. Fitting guards and trip devices to potentially dangerous machinery is a relatively simple way to protect workers from severe injury.

‘Employers need to think seriously about ensuring this form of basic protection is in place,’ she added.

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