Incident alert

LOCATION:

COMPANY-WIDE

ACTIVITY:

MAINTENANCE & HOUSEKEEPING

SUB ACTIVITY:

N/A

ALERT STATUS:

Normal

DATE ISSUED:

28/10/2010

INCIDENT No:

00272

TITLE

Pillar Drill Entanglement

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

United Kingdom

ACCIDENT / INCIDENT DETAILS

A Fitter sustained a broken thumb, following an entanglement incident involving a conventional pillar drill. As the Fitter was drilling a metal workpiece, a section of swarf from the drill bit caught and entangled his “glove”, fortunately he was able to activate the emergency stop and deactivate the drive mechanism.

Upon investigation it appears the workpiece was not clamped to the drill table, that the interlocked guard may not have been fully engaged, and that the spindle guard interlock mechanism was faulty. Further and crucially the Fitter was wearing welding gauntlets and placed his hand in close proximity to the unguarded rotating drill bit.

(see additional pdf for full details and photos etc)

ACCIDENT / INCIDENT IMAGES

LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS TAKEN

Learning Points:

• HSE guidance note PM83 Drilling Machines:Guarding of Spindles and Attachments lists the principle control measures necessary to ensure the safety of operators;

• Ensure the effective safeguarding of moving parts by guarding where practicable.

• Have in place suitable arrangements and equipment to secure the clamping of the workpiece.

• Have in place safe systems to demonstrate that operators are
adequately trained, supervised and authorised to use specialist equipment.

• Appreciate that inappropriate PPE can increase the risk of entanglement.

• A PPE risk assessment should ensure that no loose clothing should be worn, and that gloves selected should be less likely to be entangled and tear relatively easily.

• Have in place safe systems of work based on the findings of a full risk assessment.

LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS IMAGES

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