A WORKER at an Accrington wood machinists had his fingers sucked into the three-bit drilling head of an unguarded machine.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Malcolm Dennet was taken to hospital with the drilling head still attached to his hand after the incident at Baron Mercer Limited in William Street.

The company pleaded guilty to contravening Health and Safety Regulations and was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £515 costs.

John Railton, prosecuting, said that at the time of the accident guards were available for the boring machine but they were not fitted.

Mr Dennet was getting towards the end of a large job which involving drilling three holes in the end grain of 870 rails. He had stacked 10 rails on the machine when one of them fell and he tried to catch it.

"His fingers went into the three rotating drill bits," said Mr Railton. "Because they were rotating in opposite direction they actually sucked his fingers in." Mr Railton said he had been informed, during his inquiry, that it was general practice for the guard not to be fitted unless people were being trained on the machine.

He said there had been a similar incident in 1988 when the Health and Safety Executive had written to the company telling them that the machine must be guarded.

Peter King, defending, said the company had never come formally to the attention of the Health and Safety Executive and was justifiably proud of its safety record.

"It is plainly the case that in an environment such as this, there are accidents waiting to happen every single day of the week," said Mr King.

He said Mr Dennet had worked for the company for eight years and had six months' experience on the boring machine.

"I think it is fair to say he knew the risks he was taking using the machine without a guard," said Mr King. "However, the company does not seek to blame him. They are responsible for the safety precautions their employees take and the pyramid of responsibility ultimately ends up with David Baron, the managing director."

He said that since the accident the machine is always used with a new type of guard. Mr Dennet returned to work after two-and-a-half months.

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