ACCORDING to Douglas Workplace & Litigation Lawyers, a recent case shows cutting safety corners to fulfil commitments may land employers in hot water.
Lloyd A Cooper, under pressure to meet a production deadline, deployed an unguarded and inefficient can seaming machine. The machine needed continual employee intervention and maintenance to function.
On the day of the incident, the guarding for the machine was removed for repair. An employee had her hand caught in the machine, amputating parts of her fingers.
Workplace safety inspectors found that although the machine was under maintenance, the machine did not have danger tags or any other measures to ensure the machine was not used.
The emergency stop button on the machine was also not readily accessible, being covered by a can.
The employer had been aware of the problems, but continued to operate it, to the detriment of the safety of the employee. The court fined the company $82,500.
According to Douglas Workplace & Litigation Lawyers, machines that are not operational and require maintenance should not be used, especially where the employer is aware of the state of the machine.
Where machines need maintenance, they should be isolated so they cannot be operated until it is safe to do so. Additionally, all machines should be guarded.