Wise Observer

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is asking employers to make sure their risk evaluation also takes into account cleaning and routine maintenance operations. The HSE’s call comes in the wake of a judgement by Aylesbury Crown Court where a food product manufacturer has been imposed a fine of 160,000 pounds and has been asked to pay another 40,452 pounds as costs.

The company had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge of breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The case relates to the death of a female worker on May 19, 2007, at the meat processing plant of Delico Ltd in Milton Keynes. An investigation by the HSE revealed that Lynda Trebilcock, a cleaner with the company, was carrying out her daily cleaning on a blender when the automatic door of the machine closed unexpectedly and caused serious head injuries to her. Mrs Trebilcock succumbed to her injuries on the spot.

Given that the accident was caused during maintenance and not while the machine was actually in use, the HSE has pointed out the importance of including all eventualities in the risk assessment done at workplaces. Karl Howes, the HSE Inspector in charge of investigating the accident, reiterated that all operating mechanisms must be used as per the safety instructions. He emphasised that employers must make sure that workers handling potentially dangerous machinery are properly trained on use of such equipment. Howes added that that the safety features of the machines should never be turned off. Employers must take into the account the risk that workers face and appropriate safety steps must be taken as are prescribed under the HSE guidance - click on Risk Assessment Training for information on courses which ensure organisations meet their basic commitments to providing a safe work environment staff.