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Dangerous Machinery (Sections 17, 18 and 19)
Occupiers were advised that machinery was considered to be inadequately
fenced in 31 premises. In some cases guards had been removed for cleaning or maintenance
purposes and not replaced. The transparent feed chute guards on food slicing
machines should be removed regularly for thorough cleansing. Many of the products
sliced on these machines are of the cooked meat type, and it is essential that any
risk of contamination of the food is kept at the lowest possible level. There is undoubtedly
a need for careful supervision to ensure that such guards are in fact replaced
before the machines are put in normal use. Where appropriate, employees were
advised of the attendant risks of serious injury.
First Aid (Section 24)
As in previous years, inadequacy of first aid materials was reported in a large
number of premises. In most cases, this was due to failure on the part of persons
having charge of boxes or cupboards to replenish after use. These omissions were
often immediately rectified once attention was drawn to them.
Accidents (Section 48)
During the year, 89 accidents were notified compared with 82 in the previous
year and 93 in 1965. None was fatal. Investigations were made of 18 notified accidents.
In addition, notification was received of 14 further accidents which occurred in
premises or parts outside the scope of this Act or the Factories Act, 1961.
Eleven accidents were associated with machinery, four were concerned with food
slicing machinery, one a bandsaw and another a sink waste disposal unit. The remaining
five involved lifting apparatus (three instances), an office machine and a
drill.
The following are some examples of accidents reported:
1. A female employee in a retail shop had been cutting luncheon meat on a
gravity-fed powered slicing machine. She switched off the power and in removing the
small piece of meat remaining in the feed chute, the middle finger of her right hand
came into contact with the circular knife blade (which had not come to rest), and was
lacerated. During the actual slicing operation, the "last slice" plate was in use.
Had the slice thickness plate been returned to the "zero" setting on completion of
slicing, this accident could have been prevented.
2. A male employee in a butchery cutting-up room was using a bandsaw to
quarter frozen chicken carcases. In the process, his thumb came into contact with the
saw blade and was lacerated. The machine was fitted with guards and the blade was
enclosed, with the exception of that part between the friction pulleys and the bench
top. A moveable plastic guard was available but owing to its smooth surface it
could not be used to hold the hard frozen chickens firmly in place.
3. A newly engaged employee in a large office block canteen attempted to
remove what he thought to be a blockage in the hopper of a sink waste disposal unit.
To do this, he plunged his arm into the well of the unit, with the result that one of
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