Engineering company Briggs of Burton plc has been prosecuted after a worker sustained injuries to his arm after it became trapped in a drilling machine.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that, in March 2009, the employee was using a pillar drill when the left sleeve of his overalls became entangled around the rotating drill.

He became trapped and was unable to reach the off switch – he suffered a broken finger and cuts to his arm and was only freed after shouting to a colleague, who rushed over to turn off the machine and release him from it. The HSE investigation found there was no guard or emergency stop on the machine.

On Monday (29/03/10) at Burton-on-Trent Magistrates’ Court, Briggs of Burton plc – based at Derby Street, Burton-on-Trent – was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,922 costs, after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Gail Pannell said:

‘The dangers of operating these drills without a guard have been well documented for many years – installing a guard and providing an emergency stop control are two vital safety measures. This company had done neither.

‘The employee was very fortunate the drill wasn’t operating at a higher speed or his injuries could have been much worse. But they could have been prevented all together had the company complied with its legal obligation by having the necessary equipment installed,‘ said Ms Pannell.

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