AN Oldham sheet metal working company has been fined after an employee’s finger was wrenched off when drawn into a rotating drill bit.

Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how on October 16, 2017 an employee of Derek Anthony Ltd, an experienced fabricator was wearing loose rigger gloves whilst deburring holes using a pillar drill.

In the process of this operation, his gloved hand came into contact with a still rotating drIll bit. The tip snagged his right hand glove drawing it in and wrapping his hand around the drill bit, severing the finger below the first knuckle.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the twin pillared drill was being operated over a long period of time, by both employees and directors, in an unguarded state. The companies risk assessment was not implemented and training, supervision and instruction were inadequate.

Derek Anthony Ltd of White Swan Industrial Estate, Oldham pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,000.

HSE inspector Jackie Worrall said after the hearing: “The custom and practice of the company was to rely on experience rather than on the need for guarding with the addition of supervision and further instruction and training as necessary. Companies should ensure they adequately guard dangerous parts of machinery and provide suitable training and supervision”.