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Lerwick, Shetland · Lerwick Sheriff Court
On 10 October 2024 a supervisor bypassed a damaged interlocking safety gate by removing a panel to clear a blockage in a palletiser machine. The machine restarted when he triggered a sensor, striking him repeatedly before an emergency stop was activated.
Injuries: Eight fractured ribs, pelvis fractured in five places, fractured clavicle and scapula, and two collapsed lungs; airlifted to hospital and spent 20 days in intensive and high dependency care.
Regulations 11(1) and (2) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998; section 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
“Interlocking guards exist for one reason: to stop people reaching dangerous machinery while it's still live.”
A damaged interlocking guard must be repaired properly and its integrity restored immediately, not left so that staff can lift out a panel and walk into the machine area without isolating it first.
The machines, packs and quizzes that fit this kind of site.