Labourer has heart attack after becoming entangled in lathe.

A Somerset tyre services company has been fined after a labourer was injured when his trousers became entangled in an unguarded lathe.

The circumstances were:

• The lathe did not have a guard fitted as standard by the manufacturer.
• No risk assessment had been carried out, which should have identified this deficiency.
• The labourer, David Humphries, was drilling a hole in a stock bar
• His trouser leg became entangled in the rotating feed rod of the lathe.
• He sustained bruising and minor injuries to his right leg, arm and rear
• He sadly died shortly after as a result of a heart attack.

Tyre Renewals Ltd, was fined  £25,302 (inc. costs.)

The HSE Inspector said:

"This incident could have been prevented had the company fitted a guard to the machine. The law clearly states that employers should take steps to protect employees from harm arising from their work. In the case of machinery, moving parts that could cause injury should be guarded or made safe so that people cannot come into contact with them."