“SAFEGUARDING WORKERS” : Inspectors target Woodworking Industry as 2010 begins

Environmental Health Officers of Armagh and City District Council took part in a province wide enforcement initiative to ensure businesses using woodworking equipment are complying with the Health and Safety legislation.

The hazards associated with using woodworking machinery include cutting tools and exposed blades, with the following injuries being reported:

       laceration

      amputation

       severed fingers

       blindness

In addition, health hazards such as noise and dust can lead to respiratory diseases and hearing impairment.

The cause of accidents in the woodworking industry can largely be attributed to inadequate guarding and poor systems of work, often resulting from a lack of training and supervision.

Maire Gorman, who is an Environmental Health Officer with Armagh City and District Council said ‘the proper use of guards to prevent people getting close to any dangerous parts of equipment and safe working practices are essential in reducing the risk of serious accidents and health problems and no one should operate a machine or clean or maintain it, unless they are trained and authorised to do so’.

As a result of this initiative the Environmental Health Department issued 2 Prohibition Notices and 5 Improvement Notices on businesses which did not have adequate Health and Safety measures in place for woodworking machinery.