HSE’s Initiative to Deliver Justice to Injured Employee
The Health and Social executive is actively investigating and ensuring workplace safety. It is also investigating workplace injuries and ensuring that justice is delivered to the injured parties.
Recently it sued the Dura Automotive Body and Glass Systems of Birmingham , UK after one of its employees was injured on the work premises. The employee, Michael Brewer was attempting to repair a fully automated manufacturing robot when he was injured. This robot was placed in a place specially dedicated to it ,within a solid enclosure.
Viewing the work cycle of the robot was not possible without entering the enclosure. And this is precisely what Mr. Brewer did. During this process the machine struck Mr. Brewer. He was left paralyzed below and his voice box was also damaged. This accident incapacitated Mr. Brewer’s ability to work.
A case was filed against the Dura Automotive Body and Glass Systems by the HSE. In the investigation conducted, the way in which Mr. Brewer contracted his injury was found. The company had not adequately assessed the risk the employees would face in the operation of the industrial robot. Accessing the machine required it to be put into the manual mode rather than the fully automatic mode. The fact that the robot would require regular maintenance for which its work cycle would have to be observed was not considered by the company.
This incident that took place on 6 May 2008 exposed the high risk the company was exposing its employees to. The Birmingham Crown Court conducted the trial of the case HSE filed against Dura. The court placed a fine of £30, 000 on the company and ordered it to pay £20,000 as costs.
Health and Safety training can be provided by reputable companies, such as Workplace Law; their range of accredited courses by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) can assist companies in training staff to be aware of the proper health and safety procedures for all kinds of workplace situations. The managing safely courses are for managers and supervisors in any sector and any organisation. It’s designed to give managers all they need to know to help handle health and safety in their teams.
